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North West Raps in Japanese on FKA Twigs’ New Album ‘Eusexua’: Listen

North West is saying konnichiwa to the next step in her music career, guesting on FKA Twigs’ new album, Eusexua, almost a year after she made her musical debut on dad Ye’s Vultures 1.

The 11-year-old daughter of the artist formerly known as Kanye West and Kim Kardashian raps in Japanese on “Childlike Things” — the eighth song on the “Perfect Stranger” singer’s 11-track project, which dropped Friday (Jan. 24). Over an effervescent electronic dance beat, North cheerfully spits the following verse, as translated to English by Google: “Hello, my name is North/ From California to Tokyo/ Jesus the King/ Praise God/ Jesus is the only true God.”

The Skims founder and Ye’s eldest daughter is also credited as a writer on the track. Kardashian made sure to promote the collaboration on her Instagram Story, sharing a link and writing proudly, “@fkatwigs ft NORTH out now!”

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“Childlike Things” marks North’s first official musical venture outside of her work with Ye, who duetted with his daughter on Vultures 1‘s “Talking” in February 2024. That August, the Yeezy founder dropped Vultures 2 featuring the tween on another song, “Bomb,” on which youngest daughter Chicago West also appears.

Twigs has also previously worked with Ye, teaming up with the “Donda” rapper and Skrillex on Ty Dolla $ign’s “Ego Death” in 2020.

North’s new project comes shortly after Ye revealed on Instagram that he’s been “training” his firstborn in his craft, sharing a video of himself giving the 11-year-old pointers on how to rap. “This little girl made me love music again,” he gushed in another post, captioning a photo of North sitting next to a keyboard.

“She asked me to make beats for her I got back on the ASR,” he added Jan. 21. “Chopped up beats for her album and chopped every beats with my bare hand for BULLY.”

Listen North rap in Japanese on “Childlike Things” below.

Georgia Teen Basketball Player Socks Out 2 Rival Players After Alleged Racial Slur

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A Georgia high school basketball player is the target of an investigation after the teen was seen on video socking out two rival players with violent punches. The teen alleges that one of his opponents called him a racial slur, resulting in the hand of god haymakers.

As seen on TMZ, the incident took place on Jan. 3 in the city of Calhoun, Ga., some 70 miles northwest of Atlanta’s city center. A Rockmart High basketball player was viewed unleashing heavy blows on two Sonoraville High players during the evening contest.

A player for Rockmart High is seen via smartphone video footage shoving a Sonoraville High to the ground. As the player rose from the floor, the teen landed a straight right that floored his opponent. A Sonoraville High teammate is seen rushing into the shot and catches a straight right hand as he rushes in with his hands down.

Bystanders then cleared the stands and other players along with coaches intervened before separating the boys just as an all-out melee nearly sparked off. The Gordon County Sheriff’s Office says it’s investigating the matter. The teen who doled out the punches claimed that one of the opponents kept using the “n-word” slur.

The Rockmart High player, who is 16, faces two charges of simple battery but neither schools nor the students involved have made any public statements. The use of the slur has yet to be confirmed as well.

The video, which we must warn is violent and might be triggering to some, can be viewed below. We urge caution before viewing the footage.

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Photo: Getty

Morgan Wallen Scores Sweet 16th Country Airplay No. 1 With ‘Love Somebody’

Morgan Wallen earns his 16th No. 1 on Billboard’s Country Airplay chart as “Love Somebody” lifts a spot to the top of the tally dated Feb. 1. The song, which he co-wrote, increased by 9% to 33.8 million audience impressions Jan. 17-23, according to Luminate.

Dating to his first Country Airplay No. 1, “Up Down” (featuring Florida Georgia Line), in June 2018, the Sneedville, Tenn., native boasts the most leaders, surpassing Luke Combs’ 15 in that span.

Wallen logged five Country Airplay No. 1s during 2025, giving him the honor of becoming the first artist to bank that many in a single year in the survey’s 35-year history. “Lies Lies Lies” led for a week last November, following “Cowgirls” (featuring Ernest; one week, July); Post Malone’s “I Had Some Help” (featuring Wallen; four weeks, June-July); “Man Made a Bar” (featuring Eric Church; one, April); and Thomas Rhett’s “Mamaw’s House” (featuring Wallen; one, March).

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“Love Somebody” – which debuted at No. 1 on the multimetric Hot Country Songs chart and the all-genre Billboard Hot 100 in November – “Lies Lies Lies” and Wallen’s latest single, “Smile,” are all stand-alone singles so far, ahead of his newly announced forthcoming album, I’m the Problem. “Smile” ascends 37-35 on the latest Country Airplay chart (3.5 million, up 24%).

A ‘Damn Good’ Week

Riley Green adds his fifth Country Airplay top 10 as “Damn Good Day to Leave” rises 11-10, up 12% to 16.3 million in audience. The 36-year-old from Jacksonville, Ala., earned his second No. 1 as featured on Ella Langley’s “You Look Like You Love Me,” which controlled the tally for a week in December. He last reached the top 10 as a lead artist with “Different ‘Round Here” (featuring Luke Combs), which hit No. 2 in February 2024.

42 Dugg’s Funniest Sports & Gambling Tweets

The Detroit rapper live tweets games he bets on, and it’s usually some of the funniest content on X.

Sports gambling is the norm these days.

We see ads everywhere featuring the latest betting app that tries to get new customers by promoting deals, boosts and things of that nature. And honestly, sports betting can be fun and exhilarating in healthy doses. It’s also a nice way to make a little pocket change if you have a knack for it even if over time you usually end up breaking even anyway. Some people don’t enjoy losing money while gambling, though: Lil Baby recently revealed that he once lost $8 million over the course of a day and decided to swear off gambling forever.

One rapper that doesn’t have those feelings towards gambling happens to be Lil Baby’s Glass Window label signee Detroit rapper 42 Dugg. He loves sports betting, and his X timeline is one of the most entertaining things to follow along with when he’s watching a game he put money on. When the Detroit Lions suffered a stunning upset at the hands of the Washington Commanders, Dugg cursed his hometown quarterback Jared Goff to oblivion, but then he slept on it, and took everything he said back and congratulated Goff and the rest of the Lions for a great season. Those who sports bet can relate all too well.

His funniest tweets, though, are when he bets on random college games — like when he picked the Arkansas Razorbacks men’s basketball team to beat the Georgia Bulldogs. In back-to-back tweets, he said that “they ain’t s–t” only to turn around and apologize after they won by three points and covered the spread.

With the NFC and AFC Championship games coming up this weekend, we decided to curate a list of 42 Dugg’s funniest sports and gambling tweets — because we’re almost positive he’ll be live tweeting his ticket on Sunday afternoon.

Check out our picks below.

Friday Music Guide: New Music From Sexyy Red & Bruno Mars, Travis Scott & More

Billboard’s Friday Music Guide serves as a handy guide to this Friday’s most essential releases — the key music that everyone will be talking about today, and that will be dominating playlists this weekend and beyond. 

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This week, Bruno Mars gets sexy with Sexyy, Travis Scott delivers his stadium-sized new single and Central Cee proves that patience pays off. Check out all of this week’s picks below:

Sexyy Red & Bruno Mars, “Fat Juicy & Wet” 

Bruno Mars has scored a pair of recent smashes, “Die With a Smile” and “APT.,” by finding a midpoint between his pop sensibility and that of his respective collaborators, Lady Gaga and ROSÉ; with the audacious “Fat Juicy & Wet,” however, Mars fully enters the world of Sexyy Red, dropping a gleefully explicit anthem built around the rising pop star’s sexual innuendos and a club-pulverizing beat.

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Travis Scott, “4×4” 

For his first solo track since 2023, Travis Scott builds on his maximalist aesthetic with “4×4,” which pairs orchestral heft with a pitch-shifted flow. Scott debuted “4×4,” which will help support California fire relief funds through CD single sales, at the College Football Playoff National Championship Game earlier this week, and the studio track earns its stadium debut.

Central Cee, Can’t Rush Greatness 

The title Can’t Rush Greatness nods to how long UK rapper Central Cee has been waiting for this crossover moment: after years of building hype, collecting collaborations and scoring increasingly bigger hits (culminating in “Band4Band,” last year’s team-up with Lil Baby), he now has a guest-packed, generally riveting debut full-length to call his own.

FKA Twigs, Eusexua 

A decade’s worth of FKA Twigs albums have been leading to Eusexua, the culmination of her experimental amalgamation of pop, R&B, electronic and club music that finds Twigs carving out accessible pathways for new listeners while remaining as daring as ever for longtime fans. The opening run of the title track, “Girl Feels Good” and “Perfect Stranger” is perhaps the most entrancing 10-minute stretch of music we’ve gotten so far in 2025.

Tate McRae, “Sports Car” 

Tate McRae has grown increasingly confident in her dance-pop formula since “Greedy” became the biggest hit of her career a little over a year ago, and while “Sports Car” crackles like her recent single releases, the whispered chorus elevates her latest, drawing the listener in before shoving them back out to dance.

Teddy Swims, I’ve Tried Everything But Therapy (Part 2) 

“Lose Control” is a hard commercial bar to reach — the single did top Billboard’s year-end Hot 100, after all — so on his latest release, Teddy Swims wisely tries not to re-create his breakthrough smash, and instead flesh out some husky sing-alongs like “Guilty” and “Funeral,” as well as corral some new famous friends like Coco Jones, GloRilla and Giveon.

Kane Brown, The High Road 

As Kane Brown keeps cranking out crossover country hits — “Miles on It” with Marshmello was another top 20 smash last year — he concurrently continues telling stories that reach a wide listenership, and on new album The High Road, that includes heart-wrenched fare like the Jelly Roll duet “Haunted” as well as a pair of new collaborations with his wife, Katelyn Brown.

Editor’s Pick: Djo, “Basic Being Basic” 

“End of Beginning” became a well-deserved viral breakthrough for actor Joe Keery’s musical project Djo last year, and in 2025, things sound like they’re about to get stranger: “Basic Being Basic” is a lovably off-kilter new single, a callback to ‘80s synth-pop with a hook that highlights Keery’s upper register and lyrics that should launch a million TikTok lip synchs.

That’s The Way We Like It: SZA Will Be a Special Guest at Super Bowl Halftime Performance

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Kendrick Lamar dropped a bombshell ahead of the 2025 Super Bowl—R&B sensation and frequent collaborator SZA will be joining him as his special guest during the halftime show. The announcement has fans buzzing, especially after months of speculation about who Kenny might bring out for this massive stage. Before the NFL named Kendrick the halftime performer, many had hoped it would be Lil Wayne, given the game is being played in New Orleans this year, but Kendrick’s choice of SZA has quickly turned heads in the best way.

The pairing makes perfect sense. Kendrick and SZA have built a natural chemistry over the years, with their collaborations on tracks like “All the Stars” and “Luther” becoming fan favorites. Their bond runs deeper than just music—they’ve consistently pushed creative boundaries together. Given their shared history and mutual respect, it’s no surprise fans have been clamoring for a full-length collaborative project from them, and with this halftime performance, the dream of a joint album might feel closer than ever.

Could Kendrick use the Super Bowl stage as the perfect platform to announce a surprise album? The timing is certainly right, and the stage doesn’t get bigger than this. While nothing official has been confirmed, fans are already speculating about the possibility of a major announcement during the performance. Either way, the show is shaping up to be an unforgettable moment for both Kendrick and SZA’s legacies—and for hip-hop and R&B fans everywhere.

Robbie Williams Ties The Beatles for Most U.K. No. 1 Albums Ever

Robbie Williams has secured a huge milestone on the U.K. Album Charts. Better Man, the soundtrack to his recent biopic of the same name, has given the British pop icon his 15th No. 1 album, and sees him pull ahead of The Rolling Stones (14) in the all-time rankings. He is now tied with with The Beatles at 15 for the most ever.

The Better Man compilation collects the new versions that appear in the biopic, including “Rock DJ,” “Let Me Entertain You,” “Feel” and “She’s the One.” It is the fourth compilation of Williams’ to grab the top spot following Greatest Hits (2004), In and Out of Consciousness (2010) and XXV (2022).

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In the film, Williams is portrayed by a CGI monkey, with actor Jonno Davies providing the voice and motion capture. Better Man follows Williams’ upbringing, his career in boyband Take That and hugely successful solo career. The release has met mixed reviews and box office figures, particularly outside of the U.K. Box Office Mojo reports that the total global returns for the film has reached $15.6 million, far below the estimated budget of $110 million. Later this summer, he’ll play a string of stadium dates across the U.K. and Europe.

The Beatles’ most recent chart-topper was in 2000 with their collection 1, which compiled all their No. 1 singles. All but one of their 12 studio albums (1967’s Magical Mystery Tour) hit the top spot, alongside numerous live albums and compilations after their split in 1970.

Following the end of her reign at the top of Official Singles Charts with “That’s So True,” Gracie Abrams’ The Secret of Us re-enters the top 10 at No. 3. Her sophomore album initially hit No. 1 back in June. Sabrina Carpenter’s Short n’ Sweet (No. 2), SZA’s SOS (No. 3) and The Weeknd’s The Highlights (No. 5) complete the remainder of the top five.

Mac Miller’s posthumous album Balloonerism lands the late rapper his second top 40 in the U.K., finishing the week at No. 16. The collection was first recorded in 2014 and is released five years on from his first posthumous album, Faces (2020), which charted at No. 8. The completed version of Balloonerism features guest spots from SZA and a production credit for longtime collaborator and friend Thundercat.

Lola Young Scores Maiden U.K. No. 1 With Viral Hit ‘Messy’

Rising British artist Lola Young has secured her first No. 1 single in the U.K. with viral hit “Messy” (Jan. 24). Young is the first British female artist to hit the No. 1 song with a solo hit since Kenya Grace’s “Strangers” in November 2023.

The song knocks Gracie Abrams’ “That’s So True” from the top spot after a dominant eight non-consecutive weeks at the top of the chart. Abrams had featured consistently at No. 1 since November, only ceding to Wham!’s festive classic “Last Christmas” over the holiday season.

“Messy” was first released in May 2024 and featured on Young’s sophomore album, This Wasn’t Meant for You Anyway. The song began its ascent up the Official Singles Charts late last year after going viral on TikTok, and reached a previous high of No. 3. “Messy” currently sits at No. 24 on the Hot 100.

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On Thursday (Jan. 24), Young was nominated at The BRITs in the pop act category, and earlier this week she appeared on The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon as a performer. She also featured on Tyler, the Creator’s Chromakopia as a guest vocalist on “Like Him.” 

Speaking to Billboard U.K. in November, Young discussed the success of “Messy” and why the message of self-acceptance had resonated with fans. “For a long time, I wanted to represent this ideal of Westernized beauty – but then I realized I’m not that,” Young said. “I now choose to give realness and truth. I’ve got a bit of a belly out, I f–king swear a bunch and I have fun. And that’s what people are resonating with.” 

ROSÉ and Bruno Mars’ “APT.” remains at No. 2, while Abrams’ “That’s So True” finishes at No. 3. Bolton-based DJ and producer Chrystal hits No. 4 with her song “The Days,” and Gigi Perez’s “Sailor Sing” rounds out the top five. The week’s highest new entry comes from Central Cee with his 21 Savage team-up “GBP,” taken from his debut album Can’t Rush Greatness, out Friday (Jan. 24).

Alejandro Sanz & Grupo Frontera’s ‘Hoy No Me Siento Bien’ & More Best New Music Latin

New Music Latin is a compilation of the best new Latin songs and albums recommended by Billboard Latin and Billboard Español editors. Check out this week’s picks below.

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Alejandro Sanz & Grupo Frontera, “Hoy No Me Siento Bien” (Sony Music Latin)

Alejandro Sanz’s latest song — in collaboration with Grupo Frontera — thrives on a cacophony of sounds. “Hoy No Me Siento Bien” is unconventional both lyrically and musically, and that’s what makes it a really great song in general. Sanz and Frontera’s Payo sing about why it’s OK not to feel great all the time: “If you see me crying, it’s not that I’m not happy/ And it isn’t about love either, sometimes you just cry to cry,” Sanz wails at the top of the song. Sonically, the record begins with a pop melody, then goes tropical, pop again and then becomes a fusion of both. A subtle norteño accordion accompanies the song, giving it that Grupo Frontera signature sound. Produced by Edgar Barrera, “Hoy No Me Siento Bien” is the second single off Sanz’s upcoming album.  — GRISELDA FLORES

Cazzu, “DOLCE” (DALE PLAY Records/Rimas Entertainment)

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On the heels of her very vulnerable ballad “La Cueva,” Cazzu powerfully kicks off the new year with “DOLCE,” her intent at the Música Mexicana genre. The surprising corrido tumbado — produced by her longtime producer Nico Cotton — is about a complex relationship characterized by betrayal, backed by pleasing requintos. The Argentine artist reflects on her emotions and the consequences of this betrayal, ultimately leading her to seek revenge in a creative and expressive manner. “You forgot that I taught you everything you know,” she fearlessly chants. “DOLCE,” named after a red dress she owned from the designer brand, is the second single off of her upcoming studio album set for April. — INGRID FAJARDO

J Balvin, “Rio” (Sueños Globales/UMG Recordings)

J Balvin kicks off 2025 with new single “Rio.” Though the title honors his son’s name, the edgy, romantic reggaetón track is in fact a sweet dedication to his partner, Argentine model Valentina Ferrer — or, how the lyrics say, to the one who returned his faith. In the over three-minute track, the Colombian artist reflects on his personal and spiritual healing process, paying tribute to one of the most important people who has supported him along the way: the mother of his son. “Why look on the street for what is abundant in my house?/ A good-natured babe, who has a hot body and face […] God made her humble but I see her as very expensive,” he chants, also clarifying that he’s left the party life behind because “the VIP is now at home with you.” The heartfelt music video captures never-before-seen videos of the couple, who’s been together since 2018. — JESSICA ROIZ

Danny Ocean, “Vitamina” (Atlantic Records)

A dose of vitamin D – as in Danny Ocean – arrives this winter in the form of a song. The Venezuelan musician continues spreading his warmth and good vibes with the new single “Vitamina,” which in the midst of freezing temperatures and even snowfalls in Florida transports us to the heat of the beach while evoking an old love. “You and me, lying on the beach watching the sun go down/ You and me, although I never told you, I am yours my love/ You and me, can you imagine?/ A love that never ends/ It’s like a vitamin, you and me,” says the infectious chorus.

“‘Vitamina’ is a love song based on the beach, that place of escape, of being with a real love and having a peaceful time,” Ocean tells Billboard Español. “It’s like escaping the routine and going to a place where you feel free, a place where you are with that person you love having a good and peaceful time, where things happen just as you want them to happen.” It is a pop song with the distinctive Caribbean flavor that has made of Danny Ocean an instantly recognizable artist. — SIGAL RATNER-ARIAS

Soge Culebra & Abraham Mateo, “Rayo de Luz” (Atlantic Records Spain)

Spanish artists Soge Culebra (real name: Gabriel Gómez) and Abraham Mateo join forces to sing about unconditional love on the collaboration “Rayos de luz.” The immersive track features impeccable production that highlights elements of electronic pop and contemporary R&B. The lyrics highlight the transformative power of love, depicting it as a force capable of being a guide through difficult times, through people who become true rays of light. The two performers’ voices complement each other perfectly, adding rich and dynamic nuances to the melody. — LUISA CALLE

Varios Artists, Vallenatos Norteños: Un Homenaje A Colombia Desde México (Warner Music México)

In today’s Latin music, fusion genres are in the spotlight. From Los Esquivel’s pulsating electro-corridos to Yahir Saldivar’s cumbias bélicas and Fuerza Regida’s Jersey corridos, the soundscape is as fresh as ever. Enter Vallenatos Norteños, emerging as a riveting but seamless blend that merges Northern Mexico’s fervor with Caribbean Colombia’s soul. This 11-track album, presented by Warner México, weaves accordion-laden melodies with joyous cumbia rhythms: an intersection that highlights the inherent complementary nature of these two music traditions. Noteworthy are the duets such as Jorge Celedón and Ana Bárbara’s “Olvídala,” and Pipe Bueno with Angelina Victoria in “Niégame Tres Veces.” Produced by Abelardo Rivera, José Luis Cornejo, Guillermo Mazorra, and Jair Alcalá, the compilation serves as a cultural bridge that celebrates and blends two rich musical heritages into an exhilarating listening experience. — ISABELA RAYGOZA

Check out more Latin recommendations this week below:

Ye Claims He’s a Billionaire Once Again & Celebrates by Quoting a ‘Graduation’ Track

Wait till he gets his money right. Ye — formerly known as Kanye West — claims he’s back in the billionaires club with an alleged net worth more than $2.7 billion.

Yeezy took to his Instagram on Thursday (Jan. 23) to boast about the billionaire status allegedly done by business valuation company Eton Venture Services, which has him valued at a net worth of $2.77 billion.

“In 2025, Ye’s net worth stands at $2.77 billion USD as confirmed by Eton Venture Services,” the rapper shared in a screengrab credited to EVS. “The valuation is based on his music portfolio and his sole ownership of the Yeezy mark.” (Billboard has reached out to Eton Venture Services for comment.)

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Ye was hyped up to hear about his latest reported net worth valuation, and quoted the intro to his “Can’t Tell Me Nothing” anthem off 2007’s Graduation in his caption. “LAA LA LA LA,” he wrote. Fans, peers and even Bay Area legend E-40 hopped into his comment section to salute him.

However, Forbes‘ valuation doesn’t have Ye as a billionaire, as their estimates as of Friday (Jan. 24) have him at a $400 million net worth. He was previously in the Forbes’ billionaire club as of 2022, prior to a series of antisemitic remarks which led to brands such as Adidas, Balenciaga, Gap and Universal Music Group severing ties with the polarizing Chicago mogul.

Even when Forbes had him as a billionaire in ’22, West challenged their estimates while claiming he was worth closer to $7 billion at the time.

After being dropped by Adidas later that year, Forbes lowered Ye’s net worth to $400 million. If the new estimation from Eton is true, he will have passed his Watch the Throne collaborator and mentor Jay-Z as the richest rapper alive.

See Ye’s Instagram citing Eton Venture Services’ valuation below: