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16 Jan 2025

Robbie Williams Loves Taylor Swift: ‘Who Doesn’t & Who Can’t?’

Robbie Williams is a Swiftie!

The English singer-songwriter stopped by SiriusXM Hits 1 this week to promote his recently released, CGI monkey-led musical biopic Better Man. During his conversation with host Ben Harlum, Williams opened up about his love for Taylor Swift, with whom he performed “Angels” in 2018 at London’s Wembley Stadium.

“I love Taylor Swift. Who doesn’t and who can’t?” he said. “There are levels to this stuff, and she is achieving levels that have been unreached, unmatched. When I was in my pocket of omnipresence, I couldn’t help but go, ‘Hey, the crazy’s showing itself. Hey, this is what crazy looks like. This is making me crazy.’ And people went, ‘Oh, he’s being crazy.’ ‘Yes, I am. I’m insane right now, and I’m having a nervous breakdown.’ The poise that she has and the way that she is navigating very, very unfair things leveled at her — she’s just a girl singing some songs, trying to entertain people. Obviously, with great love comes great hate too. With omnipresence, comes the crazy and she’s navigating it all so well, it would seem from the outside.”

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Elsewhere, in an interview with Andy Cohen on SiriusXM, Williams opened up about his love for Madonna after Cohen called him out for previously “slagging” her for her age. “That’s not nice of me,” Williams said. “Here’s the thing, too, is I absolutely adore her and love her.”

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He continued, “The thing is about being a 90s British person, it was wrestling and you did this thing in the press where — which made me me and made us us — but you fill a space and in the 90s and the tail end of that, you filled a space sometimes by being mean, but funny.”

However, despite at times being “unkind” to Madonna, Williams added, “I adore her, respect her, love her music, love everything about her, everything that she’s managed to do in her career. I’ve been a d—. I can be a d—.”

Watch below.

16 Jan 2025

UMG Calls Deposition Drake’s Lawsuit “Illogical” and “Frivolous”

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Just when it seemed like Drake was about to move on from the massive loss he took at the hands of Kendrick Lamar by dropping his legal petition against Universal Music Group and Spotify over their promotion of “Not Like Us,” the Certified Lover Boy artist shocked the Hip-Hop world by turning around and suing UMG for “defamation” over the record. Christ on crutches.

Continuing to make himself look funny in the light, “Deposition” Drizzy sued his own record label stating that the new classic diss record slandered his reputation for alleging that he was a pedophile amongst a few other head-nodding allegations. Not taking the lawsuit lying down, Billboard is reporting that Universal Music Group has responded to Drake’s lawsuit by calling it “illogical” and accusing the Canadian crooner of “weaponizing the legal system.”

While it’s safe to say that many Hip-Hoppers agree that Drake is reaching with his latest lawsuit, it’s also become obvious that Drake is looking for any way to save some face, as Kendrick’s scathing diss track has cost Drake not only his “street credibility” but also his popularity amongst Hip-Hop fans who aren’t so interested in hearing any new material from Drake anytime soon. That being said, filing such a lawsuit not only makes him look that much worse out on these streets, but continues to give life and notoriety to Kung Fu Kenny’s now-classic club diss record.

Per Billboard:

In a strongly-worded statement issued Wednesday afternoon (Jan. 15), UMG flatly denied the allegations in Drake’s lawsuit — filed earlier in the day in New York federal court — and sharply criticized its superstar artist for bringing it.

“Not only are these claims untrue, but the notion that we would seek to harm the reputation of any artist—let alone Drake—is illogical,” the company wrote. “We have invested massively in his music and our employees around the world have worked tirelessly for many years to help him achieve historic commercial and personal financial success.”

In his new lawsuit, Drake claims that UMG knew that “Not Like Us” contained false allegations against his character but that his record label decided to put it out anyway and “chose to place corporate greed over the safety and well-being of its artists.”

UMG clapped back by saying that Drake himself has engaged in numerous rap battles where he too participated in the slandering of his fellow Hip-Hop peers.

“Throughout his career, Drake has intentionally and successfully used UMG to distribute his music and poetry to engage in conventionally outrageous back-and-forth ‘rap battles’ to express his feelings about other artists,” UMG wrote. “He now seeks to weaponize the legal process to silence an artist’s creative expression and to seek damages from UMG for distributing that artist’s music.”

“We have not and do not engage in defamation—against any individual,” UMG said in the statement. “At the same time, we will vigorously defend this litigation to protect our people and our reputation, as well as any artist who might directly or indirectly become a frivolous litigation target for having done nothing more than write a song.”

Most rappers would just take the loss and move on with their life (See Ja Rule). Not Drake though. That man will obviously go to great lengths to salvage whatever “honor” he feels he has left even if it means making him look like a Canadian Karen to millions of Hip-Hoppers in the process.

God help us all.

What do y’all think about Universal Music Group’s response to Drake’s latest lawsuit? Are they in the right? Does Drake have a case given Hip-Hop’s history of rap battles? Let us know in the comments section below.

16 Jan 2025

Coming Up: 13 Country Acts With Debut Albums or EPs Due by the End of June

The class of new country artists with debut projects coming in the first six months of 2025 looks a little different. Thankfully.

Of 13 acts readying their first album or EP for a major label or indie of significance, three are projects by solo females and three belong to vocal duos. Those subsets include Kat Luna, a singer with Cuban-American roots; and two multi-racial duos: Neon Union and 2 Lane Summer.

That development comes at a time when country labels are recognizing the nation’s changing consumer base, which practically requires a universe of artists that better resembles those shifts.

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That doesn’t mean that the genre’s history is being overlooked: John Morgan, Tucker Wetmore and Bryce Leatherwood continue to work the kind of musical vein that country listeners expect. Luna, Neon Union and 2 Lane fit within those historic boundaries, too, while owning their own sonic brand.

“The country market is a lot of male country singers,” says 2 Lane’s Chris Ray, “so we were like, ‘Let’s just come together. Let’s do something that’s bigger than our solo careers.’”

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Release schedules can change, but here’s a look at 13 acts expected to launch a first album or EP between Jan. 1 and June 30, and how they’re staking out unique territories:

• 2 Lane Summer (Quartz Hill) – Illinois-bred Joe Hanson and Mississippian Chris Ray were both chasing solo careers when they found harmony. Big harmony. Their combined voices are bold and beautiful, evident in their Jan. 10 release “Eyes That Ain’t Yours (Wedding Version).” An EP is in progress, possibly for spring.

• Bayker Blankenship (Lone Star/Santa Anna) – His 2024 indie breakout “Maxed Out” garnered 60 million streams on Spotify alone in 2024, and Blankenship’s label is teaming with Sony Music Nashville on a spring EP release, his first with major-label assistance. The Tennessean’s lonesome tone and somnolent phrasing make him easily relatable.

• Mackenzie Carpenter (Valory) – A co-writer on Lily Rose’s “Villain” and Megan Moroney’s “I’m Not Pretty,” Carpenter owns a cutting tone that allows her to sound country without seeming backwoods. The Georgian’s 13-track Hey Country Queen, due March 7, frames small-town scenarios with subtly engaging melodies, delivered with a fierce confidence.

• Carter Faith (Capitol Nashville) – Faith wears her heart on her breath, exuding fragility with a smoky resonance. She’s played the Grand Ole Opry a dozen times, collaborated with Alison Krauss, opened for Willie Nelson and issued a well-received 2024 EP, The Aftermath. A full album is currently in the works.

• Zach John King (Sony Music Nashville) – King might be the first artist to cite George Jones and Switchfoot among his influences, and those threads are both faintly evident in his just-released “Slow Down.” After issuing a series of singles and EPs independently, King’s first major-label EP likely arrives in March.

• Bryce Leatherwood (Mercury Nashville) – Leatherwood’s understanding of country music was formed first by a Conway Twitty compilation during his youth, and a tinge of that influence comes through in his adult approach to a song. A former Blake Shelton apprentice on The Voice, Leatherwood’s first album blooms in the spring.

• Kat Luna (Sony Music Nashville) – Her original Nashville recordings came as one-half of Latin country duo Kat & Alex, but Luna – to quote a subsequent solo outing – is not “That Girl” anymore. The Miami product owns powerful pipes, and she’s got a spring EP on the way to showcase them.

• Vincent Mason (Interscope/MCA Nashville) – Heartbreak and loneliness come in multiple gears, and the Roswell, Ga., native leans on ballads and midtempos with a languid vocal style that conveys emptiness without throwing in the towel. His first headlining tour is around the corner, as is more music – perhaps a debut album.

• John Morgan (Night Train/Broken Bow) – Currently in circulation with the Jason Aldean collaboration “Friends Like That,” Morgan likely unleashes his first album in the first quarter. Whether he’s crafting a country ballad or riding a ‘90s-rock pulse, Morgan’s work is consistently melodic, designed to hook a listener in a heartbeat.

• Ty Myers (RECORDS Nashville/Columbia) – Raised on a central Texas cattle ranch, Myers wraps a little blues-rock and a fair amount of red-dirt alternative texture around a commercial vocal tone and Black Crowes phrasing. His first album – The Select, featuring already-released “Ends of the Earth” – is set for Jan. 24 release.

• Neon Union (Red Street) – Miami native Leo Brooks and North Carolina-bred Andrew Millsaps met in Nashville and quickly discovered they shared an appreciation for edgy, spirited, party-time country. The duo’s first album, Good Years, arrives Jan. 31, with shades of Montgomery Gentry and Brooks & Dunn influencing its grinding, upbeat sound.

• Pitney Meyer (Curb) – Longtime Curb solo act Mo Pitney paired with bluegrass vet John Meyer for a concert at Nashville’s Station Inn, and the blend was so inspiring they started a duo. They cut their first album – Cherokee Pioneer, due April 18 – in three days, with rippling acoustic rhythms and aptly lonesome harmonies.

• Tucker Wetmore (Back Blocks/EMI Nashville) – With “Wind Up Missin’ You” in the Hot Country Songs top 10 and two RIAA-certified platinum singles in his favor, Wetmore’s first full-length album is due this spring. His ultra-country vocals are tempered by a mix of sharpened steel guitar and reverberant classic rock beats.

16 Jan 2025

D-Nice & will.i.am To Hold “L.A. Check In” Benefit Livestream

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D-Nice and will.i.am are teaming up to host a live stream concert that will benefit victims of the wildfires plaguing the Los Angeles area.

On Wednesday (January 15), will.i.am and D-Nice announced an event to help all of those affected by the wildfires that have been prevalent in Los Angeles, California for the past week and a half. The L.A. Check In, modeled after D-Nice’s popular Club Quarantine events, will feature sets from D-Nice and DJ Hed as well as appearances from surprise celebrity guests and famous hometown heroes. Viewers will be able to get information on places to donate to relief efforts, as well as to get updates on resources that are needed for victims.

The L.A. Check In is also organized by actor and philanthropist Etienne Maurice, the Annenberg Foundation, and will.i.am’s Angel Foundation. “Families and students across the city urgently need our support as many lives have been disrupted, including losing everything in the fires,” the Black Eyed Peas’ co-founder said in the press release announcing the live stream. “Teaming up with fellow musicians and the Annenberg Foundation for fire relief is what the community needs right now to connect us and activate those who wish to donate and volunteer.”

“Club Quarantine was a way for people to find community all over the world through love of music and culture,” D-Nice said in the press statement. “The music I played at that time was secondary to what was really happening, which were the conversations and connections that people were having. L.A. Check In will leverage Los Angeles’ star power while reminding one another of the resilience we build and have in each other.” The event will be broadcast live on Thursday (January 16) at 6 P.M. Pacific Time from will.i.am’s FYI Campus, with viewers being able to tune in through his YouTube page and D-Nice’s Instagram page.

16 Jan 2025

Ringo Starr Welcomes Billy Strings, Jack White, Molly Tuttle, Mickey Guyton & More During Ryman Show: 5 Top Moments

Former Beatles drummer Ringo Starr has long threaded country music into his work, both as part of the Fab Four, and his decades of solo work.

During his tenure with the Beatles, Starr sang lead on the Fab Four’s cover of the Buck Owens classic “Act Naturally.” Later, as a solo artist, Starr decamped to Nashville to record his 1970 country album Beaucoups of Blues, crafted with Nashville session musician Pete Drake.

Now, more than five decades after that project, the 84-year-old Starr continues his country inclinations, crafting his recently-released new country album Look Up with legendary producer/musician T Bone Burnett, the former Bob Dylan band member known for his production work on the O Brother, Where Art Thou? and Walk the Line soundtracks, as well as his work with a range of artists, including Robert Plant, Elton John and Brandi Carlile.

Starr celebrated the release of Look Up with two concerts at Nashville’s famed Ryman Auditorium, on Tuesday (Jan. 14) and Wednesday (Jan. 15). Each show featured Starr welcoming a star-studded lineup of his fellow music luminaries, including Sheryl Crow, Jack White, Emmylou Harris, Rodney Crowell, The War and Treaty, Jamey Johnson, Billy Strings, Molly Tuttle, Mickey Guyton, Sarah Jarosz and Larkin Poe. Burnett hosted the show, welcoming artists throughout the evening, as some performances featured artists in collaboration with Starr, while other performances featured the evening’s guest offering solo performances.

Together, they spearheaded a night of music that highlighted Starr’s long-forged country connections and the wealth of musical talent Nashville encompasses beyond the country commercial mainstream, incorporating songs from Starr’s Look Up, but also several country-tinged Beatles songs along the way.

“I feel blessed tonight, with all these great players coming out,” Starr told the audience.

Noting the work of artists including Strings, Tuttle and Jarosz, Burnett commented at one point, “Some of the most exciting stuff in music is happening in bluegrass.”

Backing the artists was an ace band of revered musicians that included Mike Rojas, Daniel Tashian, David Mansfield, Dennis Crouch, Paul Franklin and Jim Keltner. White joined Starr to open the show with a rendition of “Matchbox,” and later returned to the stage to perform an intricate, blazing version of “Don’t Pass Me By.”

Tuttle called taking part in Starr’s Look Up album “the honor of a lifetime, working with Ringo and T Bone.” The Grammy winner then played what she called “the first Beatles song I ever heard,” offering a rendition of “Octopus’s Garden,” from The Beatles’ Abbey Road album. Elsewhere in the evening, Crowell and Jarosz performed rollicking version of “Act Naturally.”

Elsewhere, Strings offered a blistering performance of “Honey Don’t,” Guyton gave a powerful, elegant vocal showcase on “You Don’t Know Me at All,” Johnson dipped into grizzled blues-rock territory on “Have You Seen My Baby,” and Larkin Poe teamed with Starr for “Thankful” and also offered a sultry version of “I Wanna Be Your Man.”

Throughout the evening, the artists feted Starr for not only his musical acumen and lasting musical influence, but also for his signature devotion to crafting music that uplifts.

“I needed this,” Crow said at one point, adding, “I can’t think of anybody who emanates love and peace like Ringo — and it’s not a brand, he really does…he believes in it.”

Starr’s two Ryman Auditorium shows were taped for the upcoming television special Ringo & Friends at the Ryman, which will air on CBS and stream on Paramount+ this spring.

The show concluded, appropriately, with an all-star singalong of The Beatles’ classics “Yellow Submarine” and “With a Little Help From My Friends,” which saw additional artists join Starr onstage, including rock and country music trailblazer Brenda Lee (the Beatles once opened for Lee back in the 1960s, prior to the Fab Four’s breakthrough).

Here, Billboard highlights five top moments from Ringo Starr’s Wednesday evening show.

16 Jan 2025

The Deals: Sony Music Buys Czech Label Supraphon; Warner Music Italy Acquires Italo Disco Label DWA

Sony Music Entertainment acquired Czech Republic-based record label Supraphon, furthering its expansion in Central Europe. The Supraphon roster includes recordings from artists such as Karel Gott, Lucie Bílá, Marek Ztracený, Škwor, Olympic, Hana Zagorová and Václav Neckář. A press release states that the Czech music market notched recorded music revenue of $84.1 million in 2023, with streaming boasting 60.1% of the total market with a volume of $50.5 million — an 18% increase from the prior year. The release adds that seven out of the top 10 songs and albums in the country in 2023 were put out by Czech artists. Libor Holeček will continue leading Supraphon as MD, Martin Kudla will remain as executive director and Iva Milerová, who was previously chairwoman of board of directors, will continue on in an advisory role.

Warner Music Italy and Warner Chappell Music Italy signed a deal to acquire the catalog of DWA Records, a leading Italo Disco label co-founded in 1989 by singer-songwriters and producers Roberto Zanetti and Francesco Bontempi. The agreement also encompasses the catalog of Extravaganza, DWA’s music publishing business. DWA’s catalog includes more than 250 masters including “The Rhythm of the Night” performed by Corona and written by Bontempi; “Happy” and “Uh La La” by Alexia; and “Baila” performed by Zucchero and written by Zanetti.

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MENA streaming service Anghami announced a new round of funding from OSN Group of up to $55 million, with a $12 million initial investment in a convertible note program. OSN and Anghami struck an initial partnership in April 2024, merging OSN+’s video streaming capabilities and 18,000 hours of content with Anghami’s portfolio of 100 million songs and podcasts. The companies claim video streaming subscribers grew 41% between April and October 2024. The new funds will allow the platforms to expand their content library, enhance the user experience using new technologies and strengthen their presence in the MENA region. It will additionally be used to implement innovations including AI-driven personalization.

Symphonic Distribution signed a global distribution deal with Taiwanese indie label Kafka By the Sea, whose roster includes Taiwanese rock band KST and indie-pop band Bubble Tea and Cigarettes. The first release under the pact was Sherry Z’s debut album Time.

Decentralized music community and discovery platform Audius struck a multi-territory licensing agreement with International Copyright Enterprise (ICE). The new deal establishes a pathway for more than 330,000 rights holders to receive royalties when their music is used on Audius in sub-Saharan Africa and Asia Pacific, among other territories.

U.K.-based live entertainment company ATG Entertainment acquired SOM Produce, a theater producer, operator and distributor based in Spain. Financial terms were not disclosed for the deal. SOM Produce, headquartered in Madrid, is a leading global producer and distributor of musicals and plays in the Spanish language. It manages five theaters in the center of Madrid — including Nuevo Teatro Alcalá, Teatro Rialto, Teatro Nuevo Apolo, Teatro Calderón and Teatro Amaya — and has produced more than 20 shows, including Mamma Mia!, The Book of Mormon, West Side Story, Grease, Chicago and Cabaret. ATG is majority owned by Providence Equity Partners.

Classical music label Pentatone signed a licensing partnership with Dutch promotion and distribution platform Collabhouse, which launched a pre-cleared artist music library in November. Through the deal, Pentatone will provide its entire public domain catalog to a broader community of creators, allowing composers, filmmakers, advertisers and more to work with musical works by composers including Beethoven, Bach, Tchaikovsky, Mozart, Vivaldi and more, “all interpreted by the most renowned artists,” according to a press release.

The Peoria Civic Center Authority and Prairie Home Alliance secured a naming-rights agreement for the 2,200-capacity theater within Peoria Civic Center for seven years. The venue will now be known as the Prairie Home Alliance Theater. Prairie Home Alliance is a locally owned and operated group of 10 home improvement companies across central Illinois. This is the first naming rights deal for the theater in its 42-year history.

Danish microphone producer DPA Microphones acquired the majority share of Vienna-based audio products company Austrian Audio. According to a press release, DPA is a leading manufacturer within several miniature microphone categories while Austrian Audio is strong in the large diaphragm microphone market. “Together, the brands provide a broader product range for discerning sound engineers in industries like broadcast, musical, theatre, live events and recording studios,” states a press release announcing the deal. “By joining forces, the brands will design and develop sophisticated, professional audio solutions that meet the evolving demands within the acoustical and digital fields, all while prioritizing the user experience.”

16 Jan 2025

Michael Tait Is Stepping Down From CCM Group Newsboys

After 15 years, singer Michael Tait is exiting his role as lead singer of contemporary Christian band Newsboys.

Tait made the announcement in an Instagram post on Jan. 16, calling his time leading Newsboys “some of the most fulfilling, faith-based and rewarding years of my life. I have been on an amazing journey all over the globe, performing and ministering to people of all ages, races and backgrounds.”

He added, “I have made for me what is a monumental and heartfelt decision that it is time to step down from Newsboys. This decision does not come lightly and has been a shock to even myself, but amidst prayer and fasting, I have clarity that this is the right decision.”

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Tait went on to thank his Newsboys bandmates for their time together, saying, “You are family, and always will be. I know Newsboys will carry on doing incredible things for God’s kingdom with strength and purpose and I can’t wait to cheer you on while you do.”

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The announcement comes just days before the group continues the 2025 leg of their Worldwide Revival Nights Tour on Jan. 18 in Poplar Bluff, Missouri. A social media statement from Newsboys noted that Tait’s exit will not impact their upcoming tour, which is slated to run through August.

“We are grateful for the extended season Michael has had with Newsboys….as he said in his announcement, the memories we share are deeply cherished. As he walks into the next season of life, we are stepping into the next season of Newsboys,” the group’s Duncan Phillips, Jeff Frankenstein, Jody Davis and Adam Agee said in the social media post.

“We are kicking off our Worldwide Revival Nights tour as planned this weekend, and we hope to see you at a show soon … as we navigate this season of change, we know that worshipping together is the way we want to move forward. We know there will be questions about what the future holds, and in due time we’ll have answers for those questions. For now, we want you to know that Newsboys isn’t going anywhere; we’re going everywhere!” the group’s statement continued.

Newsboys released their most recent album, Worldwide Revival (Part One), on July 19, 2024. Tait joined Newsboys in 2009, following the departure of former Newsboys member Peter Furler. Since forming in 1989, the band has earned two No. 1 hits on Billboard’s Christian Airplay chart, including “You Are My King (Amazing Love),” and “We Believe.” The group has also earned 13 top 10 Christian Airplay hits, and has been nominated for four Grammy Awards.

Tait was previously part of the groundbreaking CCM rap-rock group, DC Talk, from 1988-2001, alongside TobyMac and Kevin Smith. The four-time Grammy-winning DC Talk was known for songs including “Jesus Freak” and “Between You and Me.” He also led his own band, Tait, prior to joining Newsboys.

Check out both statements from Tait and Newsboys below:

16 Jan 2025

Drake’s Latest Lawsuit Isn’t Hip-Hop

What is Drake doing?

Tuesday night, Rap Twitter was sent into a frenzy when news of Drake withdrawing his legal action accusing his label UMG and Spotify of using bots and payola to push Kendrick Lamar’s “Not Like Us” diss track to one of the biggest songs in the world. Social media lawyers simultaneously claimed victory and defeat, but little did they know he was clearing the way for something more serious and ridiculous (depending on who you ask). 

Then on Wednesday, news broke that the Toronto superstar decided to file a straight-up defamation lawsuit against his current and longtime parent record company, Universal Music Group. Drake claims UMG benefited and helped promote a “false and malicious narrative” and chose “corporate greed over the safety and well-being of its artists.”

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Drake’s lawyers claim the drive-by shooting of one of his security guards outside of his Toronto mansion (a.k.a. “The Embassy”) may be connected to “Not Like Us,” because it happened just days after the song was released. “UMG’s greed yielded real world consequences,” his lawyers wrote. “With the palpable physical threat to Drake’s safety and the bombardment of online harassment, Drake fears for the safety and security of himself, his family, and his friends.”

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A few days after the shooting, an intruder was apprehended trying to break into Drake’s residence, and while The Embassy is featured prominently on the cover art for “Not Like Us,” the address is well-known and was the location used for the “Toosie Slide” music video released during the Covid lockdown of 2020, a video that has since racked up close to 400 million views on YouTube. And a week before both incidents at Drake’s crib took place, The Weeknd’s manager Cash’s security guard was also shot in front of his security gate. At the time, many fans speculated both shootings were connected based on the history between the Canadian record labels XO and OVO.

Elsewhere in the filing are less-serious claims if you’re familiar with rap battle etiquette (or lack thereof). Firstly, his lawyers mistakenly say Kendrick grew up in Oakland when they reference the “Not Like Us” line, “I think that Oakland show gon’ be your last stop.” Drake’s lawyers allege that Kendrick was suggesting that Drake “would not make it out alive” if he chooses to perform in the city where the late 2Pac once lived. Drake famously (and notoriously) used an A.I. version of ‘Pac’s voice and told Lamar that he should mention Drake “likin’ young girls.” Secondly, they claim “Not Like Us” actually “alludes to Drake’s Jewish heritage saying that Drake is ‘not a colleague’ but ‘a f—kin’ colonizer,” completely disregarding the bars that preceded those statements that mention his history of aligning himself with artists from Atlanta to allegedly bolster his street credibility.

Drake winning this lawsuit has the potential to change the way diss songs are handled moving forward. Mind you, Drake insinuated that Kendrick’s kids aren’t his and that he has abused the mother of the children — who, according to him, are really the children of his friend and business partner. Kendrick could sue as well if he truly wanted to, but the game isn’t played that way. There are many unwritten rules in hip-hop, and suing over a diss song is one of the 10 Rap Commandments of dos and don’ts.

Ironically, Drake suing over a diss further complicates his relationship with hip-hop culture, making him look like an outsider and *check notes* a colonizer. He can win this lawsuit, but he’s already lost in the court of public opinion. He’s currently doing more damage to his public perception amongst rap fans than “Not Like Us” ever could. Rap music has always been full of hyperbole. Most rap fans don’t take every single lyric literally and Drake, who has said publicly that he “studies rap battles for a living” on LeBron’s talk show The Shop should know that.

To quote one of the great philosophers of our time:

“The streets is the streets, this is industry. N—as wanna bring they lawyers to muthaf—kin’ battles, man. Don’t bring your lawyer, bring your gat or bring your clique, man. So, it’s a big difference… They not ghetto celebrities if they tellin’.”

16 Jan 2025

Barbie Celebrates Aaliyah With Stunning New Doll: Here’s How to Buy the ‘One in a Million’ Memento Online

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In celebration of Aaliyah‘s birthday, Barbie is paying homage to the “princess of R&B” with a stunning new doll. Part of Mattel‘s growing Music Collector series, the iconic doll brand honors the late singer’s unforgettable talent and timeless influence on music and fashion that has helped shape ’90s hip-hop culture.

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The Aaliyah Barbie doll is inspired by her iconic “One in a Million” music video. The figure is dressed in a black faux leather ensemble with several accessories that scream ’90s, including studded lace-up details, sleek black shades and her signature hairstyle, with hair swooping over one eye. The Barbie team worked closely with Aaliyah’s brother, Rashad Haughton, to develop the concept for the doll and ensure the result was true to Aaliyah’s legacy and persona. Shop below.

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Aaliyah Barbie Doll: Where to Buy Online

Barbie Signature Aaliyah Collectible Doll

“I can vividly remember my sister playing with her favorite Barbie dolls for hours when we were kids. She would make them sing, dance, and perform little concerts,” said Haughton in a statement. “It’s clear to me now that she was imagining dreams that would eventually become reality when she embarked on a career in entertainment at just fifteen years old.”

Aaliyah broke out onto the R&B scene in 1994 with her incredible debut single “Back & Forth.” She would go on to earn numerous accolades, including three American Music Awards, two MTV Video Music Awards, and five Grammy nominations during her career before tragically dying in a plane crash in 2001.

Celebrate Aaliyah’s iconic legacy with her well-deserved Music Collector series Barbie doll available now for pre-order through Target, with a general release on Jan. 26. Other celebrities featured in the Barbie Music Collector Series including David Bowie, Gloria Estefan, Elvis Presley, Elton John, and Stevie Nicks.

Aaliyah Barbie Doll: Where to Buy Online

Barbie Signature David Bowie Collectible Doll

$67.00

$67.99

Aaliyah Barbie Doll: Where to Buy Online

Barbie Signature Elvis Presley Collectible Doll

Aaliyah Barbie Doll: Where to Buy Online

Barbie Signature Gloria Estefan Collectible Doll

$34.95

Aaliyah Barbie Doll: Where to Buy Online

Barbie Signature Elton John Collectible Doll

Aaliyah Barbie Doll: Where to Buy Online

Barbie Signature Stevie Nicks Collectible Doll

$124.98

$138.99

16 Jan 2025

David Lynch, Iconic Filmmaker Behind ‘Twin Peaks’ & ‘Mulholland Drive,’ Dies at 78

David Lynch, the beloved filmmaker and director known for his dark, surrealist vision in the television classic Twin Peaks, as well as films including Mulholland Drive and Blue Velvet, has died. He was 78 years old.

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Lynch’s family announced the news of his passing via a Facebook post on Thursday (Jan. 16). “It is with deep regret that we, his family, announce the passing of the man and the artist, David Lynch,” the statement reads alongside a photo of the artist playing a guitar. “We would appreciate some privacy at this time. There’s a big hole in the world now that he’s no longer with us. But, as he would say, ‘Keep your eye on the donut and not on the hole.’ It’s a beautiful day with golden sunshine and blue skies all the way.”

See the post here. His cause of death was not revealed.

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Lynch’s death comes just five months after he announced that he was housebound over fears he’ll contract COVID-19 after being diagnosed with emphysema from many years of smoking. At the time, he added that he wasn’t planning to make another film. “I would try to do it remotely, if it comes to it,” Lynch said. “I wouldn’t like that so much.”

The Missoula, Montana, native, was a one-time painter who enrolled in the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts before he shifted his focus to making films. His breakthrough came via 1977’s Eraserhead, which became popular in the midnight movie underground circuit. Among his many notable films include 2001’s Mulholland Drive starring Justin Theroux, Naomi Watts and Laura Harring; and 1986’s Blue Velvet, starring Kyle MacLachlan, Isabella Rossellini, Dennis Hopper and Laura Dern.

In television, he was best known as the visionary behind the mystery drama series Twin Peaks, which ran for two seasons from 1990 to 1991 and returned for a third season in 2017. The series won three Golden Globes and two Emmys, as well as a 1991 Grammy for best pop instrumental performance for the Angelo Badalamenti-composed theme music.

Lynch’s projects also made appearances on the Billboard charts. Twin Peaks: Music From The Second Season And More claimed the No. 17 spot on the the April 27, 2019-dated Soundtracks chart. That same week, it peaked at No. 68 on the Top Album Sales tally. His third studio album, The Big Dream, peaked at No. 40 on Independent Albums and No. 167 on Top Current Album Sales in 2013.

He also directed a number of music videos, including Nine Inch Nails’ 2013 “Came Back Haunted” clip as well as Moby’s 2009 “Shot in the Back of the Head” video.