R&B/Hip-Hop
PRETTYMUCH Announce Nick Mara Is Leaving the Band
Nick Mara from PRETTYMUCH announced he’ll be breaking from the group to “take on new endeavors as an individual.” The group released a statement Friday (Oct. 7) saying goodbye to Mara, but assuring fans that they’ll continue to make music with four members. Explore See latest videos, charts and news See latest videos, charts and news The band, who have four other members in addition to Mara — Edwin Honoret, Brandon Arreaga, Zion Kuwonu, and Austin Porter — also shared their new single “H2L” made by the remaining members. The single, which they describe as a Web3 single, is the band’s first independent release and is fully written and produced by the band members, according to their post on Sound.xyz. “We’d like to start off by saying we love each and every one of you for sticking by us and...
Kanye West Slams ‘Liberal Nazis,’ Claims Life Was Threatened Over MAGA Hat and Says ‘White Lives Matter’ Shirt Was Just ‘Funny’ To Him
Kanye West quadrupled down on his controversial “White Lives Matter” shirt during an appearance on Fox News commentator Tucker Carlson’s show, Tucker Carlson Tonight, on Thursday night (Oct. 6), while also roasting the “demonic” promotion of obesity by the media (via his “good Friend” Lizzo) the he said was part of a plot intended to hasten the “genocide of the Black race.” West, who now goes by Ye, saved some of his harshest comments for ex-wife Kim Kardashian, whom he slammed for posting with her rear out for a recent issue of Interview magazine. “Kim is a Christian, but she has people who want her to go to Interview magazine and put her ass out while she’s a 40-something-year-old multi-billionaire with four black children and this is how fashion, how they want to present her,”...
Takeoff & Quavo Release ‘Only Built for Infinity Links’ Album: Stream It Now
Quavo and Takeoff’s collaborative album Only Built for Infinity Links, has arrived. The project, released via Quality Control Music/Motown Records, came after four singles — “Hotel Lobby,” “Big Stunna” with Birdman, “Us Vs. Them” with Gucci Mane and, most recently, “Nothing Changed.” Explore See latest videos, charts and news See latest videos, charts and news Outside of its singles, the 18-track offering also features Summer Walker, Young Thug, Gunna, YoungBoy Never Broke Again and Mustard. The title is inspired by Raekwon’s solo 1995 debut, Only Built 4 Cuban Linx…, and even received the official stamp of approval from the Wu-Tang legend, Takeoff told Complex. The uncle-nephew duo — also billed as Unc and Phew — worked on the project for two years and modeled elements of the cover art on...
Lizzo Tears up During ‘Special Tour’ Hometown Return to Detroit
Being back where she was born made for a particularly special night of Lizzo’s The Special Tour on Thursday (Oct. 6) in Detroit. The Grammy Award-winning singer was born Melissa Jefferson in the Motor City during 1988, and though her family moved to Houston when she was 10 years old she continued to visit regularly and still refers to it as home. Thursday’s show before about 15,000 fans at Little Caesars Arena was her largest concert there to date, following a co-headlining slot at the Mo Pop Festival during May of 2019. Lizzo started waving her home town flag early in the nearly two-hour concert, changing references in the opening song “The Sign” to “Detroit keeps singing along” and “my people keep singing along.” Explore Explore See latest videos, charts and news See latest videos, chart...
Kanye West Shares Video of Tucker Carlson Visiting Yeezy Offices Ahead of Fox News Interview
Kanye West took to social media on Thursday (Oct. 6) to share a video of Fox News host Tucker Carlson stopping by the new Yeezy offices for a visit. “TUCKER CARLSON STOPPED BY THE NEW YEEZY OFFICE FUN GOD IS GOOD,” the rapper captioned the clip on his Instagram feed. After being served a welcome drink known as the Donda (“I’m pretty open-minded about what I put in my mouth,” Carlson said), the Fox News personality learned all about Yeezy’s latest experiment in 3D-printed shoes — including the possibility of creating a “3D printing facility, like a farm.” “Can I ask a stupid question?” Carlson asked a Yeezy employee about the futuristic footwear. “Are they assembled? Is the sole attached or are they printed…” He then seemed positively mind-blown when the employee explained that each shoe wa...
Ahmaud Arbery’s Mother Says Kanye West’s ‘White Lives Matter’ Shirt Helps to ‘Legitimize Extremist Behavior’
The backlash against Kanye West for weaving “White Lives Matter” shirts into his recent YZY SZN 9 Paris Fashion Week show continued on Wednesday (Oct. 5) when the family of Ahmaud Arbery called the artist now known as Ye out for what they described as a hurtful, duplicitous publicity stunt. “As a result of his display ‘White Lives Matter’ started trending in the U.S., which would direct support and legitimize extremist behavior, [much] like the behavior that took the life of her son,” said Arbery’s mother, Wanda Cooper-Jones, in a statement to Rolling Stone through her attorney Lee Merritt. “That is the thing that Wanda and families like hers continue to fight against.” Arbery, 25, was killed in Feb. 2020 when he went for a jog in Georgia and was chased down by three white neighbors and sh...
A Sasha Flute TV Series? Lizzo Files Trademark Applications for Her Signature Instrument
Lizzo is looking to trademark her signature flute — a.k.a. “Sasha Flute” — for a range of products in both the digital and physical spheres. As first noted by trademark attorney Michael E. Kondoudis on Twitter, the global pop star recently filed a total of seven trademark applications for the instrument that cover a number of arenas, including: NFTs and NFT marketplaces; Virtual environments and digital accessories; Animated TV programs and movies; Toys, including action figures and “dolls in the shape of musical instruments”; Clothing and accessories; Physical and downloadable books. All seven trademark applications were filed with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office by attorney Peter Nussbaum on behalf of Lizzo, LLC on Sept. 30. A representative did not respond to Billboard‘s request fo...
Tyler, the Creator’s Camp Flog Gnaw Festival Will Not Return for 2022
Tyler, the Creator’s Camp Flog Gnaw festival in Los Angeles is skipping 2022, his manager Chris Clancy tells Billboard, and is planning to bring the festival back next year. “It’s really not that deep,” says Clancy of the Goldenvoice-produced event. “Tyler toured all year and was busy with a number of projects. Reading the tea leaves and what’s happening with festivals coming out of the pandemic, we thought it would be best to come back next year.” This has been an unusual year for festivals, as large-scale events largely returned from the pandemic. The festival space was more crowded and oversaturated in 2022 than many expected as promoters created new events to take advantage of an uptick in ticket buying and fan demand at the beginning of the year for events like Coachella and Outside L...
R&B/Hip-Hop Fresh Picks of the Week: Kenny Mason, Mavi, Chxrry22 & More
Happy Monday! It’s officially spooky season, and this week we’ve got 10 new tracks to calm your nerves — or add to the frights. From newcomers like Chxrry22, Reggie Becton and Debbie, to staples like Smino, Kenny Mason and SPINALL, our picks are playlist must-haves, per usual. Explore Explore See latest videos, charts and news See latest videos, charts and news And of course, don’t forget to share the wealth with our Spotify playlist, linked below. Freshest Find: Kenny Mason, “Minute Forever” Kenny Mason adds to his rock-rap arsenal with “Minute Forever.” The hardcore blend of crunching guitar riffs complemented by hi-hats and hyperpop undertones finds the Atlanta artist rapping and singing about being in his version of paradise. “Minute Forever” appears on Mason’s recent album Ruffs. Smin...
John Legend Explains How He & Kanye West ‘Elevated’ Each Other’s Debut Albums With the ‘Merging of Our Sounds’
John Legend opens up about his early friendship and collaboration with Kanye West in his new Audible Original project Living Legend. “While other MCs may have been wearing throwback jerseys and rapping about dealing coke over his beats, Kanye, he stood out,” the EGOT winner recalls in a clip premiering exclusively on Billboard below. “He was more preppy, he wore his polos and his collegiate wear, and he was lyrically exploring different topics like his own insecurities and his relationship with God.” Even beyond how West differed from his hip-hop contemporaries of the time, Legend credited the budding superstar with helping put a modern spin on his 2004 debut Get Lifted, which would establish Legend as a rising R&B star after its top five peak on the Billboard 200. “It was so important...
Lil Wayne Honored With Exhibit at National Museum of African American Music
The National Museum of African American Music unveiled a new exhibit in honor of Grammy-winning rapper Lil Wayne. The rapper, who just celebrated his 40th birthday on Sept. 27, thanked the NMAAM in a statement. Explore Explore See latest videos, charts and news See latest videos, charts and news “I’m very grateful to work with NMAAM and show students how Hip-Hop has been so influential on the culture,” said Lil Wayne. “Shout out to NMAAM for all the birthday love.” Fans who make it to the exhibit, open until Dec. 27, will be able to view Wayne’s 2009 Grammy for rap album of the year (for Tha Carter III), his clothing, a CD of his Tha Block Is Hot studio album, a handwritten letter written during his time at Rikers prison and more items. The museum, based in Nashville, will ...
Ciara Is Striving For ‘Better Thangs’ In Her Life: ‘I Love Where I Am As a Woman’
Ciara is onto “Better Thangs.” Her newly released single featuring Summer Walker is a feel-good, uptempo R&B anthem that inspires listeners to let go of things they can’t control and continuously level up. Explore See latest videos, charts and news See latest videos, charts and news Following Ciara’s new label deal with Republic Record and Uptown Records (in partnership with her own Beauty Marks Entertainment) and the July release of her single “Jump,” “Better Thangs” continues to embody positive vibes. The song comes right on time, as the feeling of joy and experiencing the better things in life is quite literally how Ciara says she’s been feeling lately. During a Zoom interview with Billboard, Ciara discussed the making of her new song, describing it as “a feel-good record” that she ...
