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Lady Gaga and Bruno Mars’ “Die With a Smile” notches a second week at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100. A week earlier, the ballad about flashing pearly whites just before reaching the pearly gates became Gaga’s sixth Hot 100 leader and Mars’ ninth. With the coronation, Gaga joined the elite company of Janet […]
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Sorry Dipset fans, but it doesn’t seem like a new Diplomats album may ever materialize, as Cam’ron and Jim Jones are currently engulfed in a war of words. Killa Cam has been clapping back at his former Capo over some comments that Jones made during an interview with Justin Laboy just last week.
During the interview, Jim spoke about Cam’s interview with 50 Cent in which they spoke about how 50 was able to get Jim Jones to appear with G-Unit at the height of 50’s back-and-forth with Cam’ron and basically said both 50 and Cam were on his “d*ck” all these years later. While 50 trolled Jimmy with an IG post insinuating his was working with the feds during their investigation of Tekashi 6ix9ine and his former crew, the Nine Trey Gangsters, Cam took to his podcast and aired out Jimmy in a way more personal way.
Grabbing the mic (pause) on his It Is What It Is show, Cam’ron gave Jim a dressing down (pause, again?) and said that the only reason Cam embraced Jim into Dipset was because he was “fanned out” and “begged” Cam and his crew to give him a shot. He even revealed that Mase taught him how to rap as the camera man shifted his focus to Mase, who was eating a bucket of popcorn on his side of the table (LMAO).
“We taught you how to rap, ni**a. How you ran the whole organization?” Cam’ron asked.
But the biggest dart that might’ve hurt Jim was when Cam’ron reminded people that Jim Jones isn’t even from Harlem. While many New Yorkers were already familiar with that fact, some fans might not be aware of Jim’s roots as he screams Harlem as much as any other rapper who actually hails from the Black Mecca in New York.
“We didn’t grow up with you!” Cam stated. “You not from none of that! So you can sit around and act like you been around all this Harlem sh*t and everything. You ever see somebody from Harlem try to act like they’re from Harlem so bad that you gotta keep saying ‘I’m from Harlem’?”
Jim Jones is actually from the Bronx.
Cam then went on to say that Jim tends to beef with guys only to befriend them once they “put hands” on Jim. From C-Gutta (Junior Mafia) to Maino to French Montana, Cam came with the (alleged) tea, b.
Guess we’ll have to wait and see if Jim responds to his former homie.
Check out Cam’ron respond to Jim Jones, and sound off on the situation in the comments section below.
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences has announced updates to its 2025 Oscars key dates and schedule of events due to the impact of the Los Angeles-area fires. The Oscar telecast is still set for March 2, but the nominations announcement is being delayed for the second time to Jan. 23 — and will now be held virtually. The Oscars nominees luncheon, always an A-list event, will not be held this year.
“We are all devastated by the impact of the fires and the profound losses experienced by so many in our community,” Academy CEO Bill Kramer and Academy president Janet Yang said in a joint statement. “The Academy has always been a unifying force within the film industry, and we are committed to standing together in the face of hardship.
“Due to the still-active fires in the Los Angeles area, we feel it is necessary to extend our voting period and move the date of our nominations announcement to allow additional time for our members.
“Additionally, as we want to be sensitive to the infrastructure and lodging needs of the region in these next few weeks, it is imperative that we make some changes to our schedule of events, which we believe will have the support of our industry.
“Our members always share how important it is for us to come together as a community, and we are determined to use this opportunity to celebrate our resilient and compassionate industry. We also look forward to honoring our frontline workers who have aided with the fires, recognizing those impacted, and encouraging people to join the Academy in supporting the relief efforts.
“We will get through this together and bring a sense of healing to our global film community.”
Updates are outlined as follows:
The nominations voting period is extended through Friday, Jan. 17, at 5 p.m. PT. The voting window was originally set to close on Sunday, Jan. 12. That was pushed back to Tuesday, Jan. 14, before being pushed back again today.
The nominations announcement is rescheduled for Thursday, Jan. 23, at 5:30 a.m. PT. The live announcement will be a virtual event without in-person media coverage. The nominations were originally set to be announced on Friday, Jan. 17, which was pushed back to Sunday, Jan. 19, before being pushed back again today.
The Oscars nominees luncheon, scheduled for Monday, Feb. 10, will not be held this year.
The Scientific and Technical Awards, scheduled for Tuesday, Feb. 18, will be rescheduled to a later date yet to be determined.
The Academy stresses that all dates are subject to change.
The 97th Oscars, hosted by Conan O’Brien for the first time, will still be held on Sunday, March 2, at the Dolby Theatre at Ovation Hollywood and will be televised live at 7 p.m. ET/4 p.m. PT on ABC, streamed live on Hulu and air live in more than 200 territories worldwide.
Speaking about anything related to album releases and awards season feels frivolous as a series of destructive fires continue hounding Los Angeles. As people begin to assess the damage and find their bearings, the City of Angels has exemplified the kind of community that shined at Kendrick Lamar‘s Pop Out concert last summer, with the city’s beautifully diverse collection of people banding together to share support and resources amid such a paralyzing crisis. On Monday (Jan. 11), music stars like DJ Premier and Flying Lotus amplified a fundraiser for Madlib, a Cali native and acclaimed hip-hop producer who lost his home, decades of music and studio equipment in the fires.
Tragedy extended beyond the fires last week, with the music world losing Sam Moore, one half of the Grammy-winning, Billboard chart-topping R&B duo Sam & Dave. Known for classics such as “Hold On, I’m Coming” and “Soul Man,” the seminal ’60s act was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 1992.
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In more contemporary news, Lil Baby debuted atop the Billboard 200 this week with Wham (No. 1), marking his fourth consecutive No. 1 album, and Ye (formerly Kanye West) began teasing an AI-assisted Vultures film.
With Fresh Picks, Billboard aims to highlight some of the best and most interesting new sounds across R&B and hip-hop — from Otis Kane’s lovestruck new single to BabyDrill’s shot-firing banger. Be sure to check out this week’s Fresh Picks in our Spotify playlist below.
Otis Kane, “Breathe”
Last Friday (Jan. 10), Los Angeles-based R&B singer-songwriter Otis Kane colored the world Violet with the release of his sophomore studio album. The album diligently explores the different stages of falling in love, and “Breathe” is a decadent, soulful ode to loving someone so much that you can’t live without them. “I would give up/ Everything babe/ Just to call you my home,” he raspily yearns in the song’s opening, immediately settling into a seductive, funky pocket of D Mills’ bass-heavy production. If the self-proclaimed “real lovers” are looking for some new additions to their playlists, Otis Kane is ready to serve. — KYLE DENIS
Qing Madi, “Akanchawa”
Nigerian singer Qing Madi is starting the year strong with “Akanchawa.” The track is one of three singles from Qing Madi’s upcoming debut album, I Am the Blueprint — which she describes as “a statement of fact for all the struggles, pain, and rejection [she] went through as far back as 8 years” — set to release on Jan. 31. “Akanchawa” is a love-filled expression, blending heartfelt emotions with playful language. The song is a love letter filled with passion and humor, celebrating the joy of finding someone who captures your heart so completely that you’re willing to embrace vulnerability and offer unwavering commitment. Themes of devotion and vulnerability shine through lines like “for you I ready drop my ego” and the repeated “giving you all my love,” emphasizing the track’s message of unconditional love. — CHRISTOPHER CLAXTON
BabyDrill, “Scared of the P—y”
The abundance of feuds and competitive energy displayed last year has carried over into rap’s 2025. BabyDrill sets the tone by embarrassing an opp – who he calls “Mr. Vaseline man” and their alleged sex toy boutique shopping preferences with a fake newscast. There’s even alleged social media posts and fighting videos to further drive his humiliating “Scared of the P*ssy” diss track home. “F–k I look like beefing with a booty bandit,” the Atlanta native raps over the hard-hitting trap production. — MICHAEL SAPONARA
Jordan Adetunji feat. KWN, “Too Many Women”
After scoring a global breakthrough hit in “Kehlani” — and getting the actual Kehlani on the remix and scoring a Grammy nod for it — Jordan Adetunji has now set his sights on rolling out his forthcoming A Jaguar’s Dream mixtape. To officially announce the set, the U.K. artist dropped “Too Many Women,” an Afrobeats-inflected R&B-melodic rap hybrid that features experiment U.K. artist KWN. “Don’t mean to get in your way/ Took another shot, girl I’m waved/ Shawty I know that you think we’re the same,” Jordan opens the track, setting the scene at a club where he’s the ultimate bachelor. Built around a slick flip of Too $hort’s “Broke B—h,” “Too Many Women” is a catchy track that helps prove “Kehlani” was no fluke. — K.D.
Rod Wave, “Westside Connection”
A deeply heartfelt track, “Westside Connection” delves into the emotional complexities of love, loss, and longing. With lyrics like, “I needed someone desperately, and you was right there for me” and “Give you the moon, the stars, the clouds, whatever to make you smile,” Rod captures both the intensity of devotion and the yearning to heal a fractured bond. He juxtaposes raw confessions of pain — “I was in a dark place when you had found me, my pain, and my problems had me surrounded” — with a desire for reconciliation, reflected in the refrain, “I left my heart on the West End, can’t wait to get home to you.” Through introspective verses and melodic hooks, Rod continues to deliver bluesy, soul-baring hip-hop ballads. — C.C.
WolfaceeJoey, “3STAR”
2025 should be WolfaceeJoey’s breakout as the next star from the burgeoning sexy drill scene. The Staten Island native kicks off the new year playing “love doctor” with his 13-track Cupid album. He’s not a one-trick pony either, with a versatile repertoire of flows so there’s something for everyone. “3STAR” is an early standout and like a Michelin restaurant, this is rap’s culinary excellence. — M.S.
Ransom, “Tears From a Third Eye”
Ransom originally dropped his Carini Green LP last fall (Oct. 30, 2024), but the seven-song set finally arrived on DSPs last week (Jan. 8). Even if the project is a few months old, the Jersey City emcee has already delivered some of the best rapping if 2025 so far. Album opener “Tears From a Third Eye” — a heart-pounding, single stream-of-consciousness verse — is something of a breakthrough; Ransom uses CinemaTaGraffiti’s ethereal, electric guitar-anchored soundscape to ground his ruminations on maturation and spirituality and how those elements of his life have evolved post-fatherhood. — K.D.
Abby Jasmine, “Believe in Me”
With just 32 days until Abby Jasmine’s highly anticipated project Closure, the New York native continues to deliver for her fans. Her latest single, “Believe Me,” is a bold declaration of resilience and self-confidence, tackling themes of doubt, perseverance, and self-belief. “I can’t share my thoughts with them, they won’t ever get it,” she spits, later rapping, “They don’t wanna see me win, baby, you gonna have to just go blind,” underscoring her determination and conviction in her own potential. With its bold, defiant lyrics and an unforgettable hook, “Believe in Me” is more than just a song — it’s a 2025 anthem for anyone in need of motivation. — C.C.
LeoStayTrill, “Selena”
UK drill has something to say in 2025. Eyes are on Central Cee’s upcoming project, but LeoStayTrill is a college student making waves in his own right climbing the rap ladder. The South London resident follows the Clean Bandit “Rather Be”-sampling “2’s 3s” with “Selena.” After garnering momentum on TikTok following an NYE teaser, “Selena” finds Leo dodging commitment from the various women he’s involved with. “The girl got pissed I don’t my show location/ I ain’t gettin home until 9:00 most likely,” he raps about his sly elusiveness. — M.S.
This week finds a full slate of artists releasing new music for the new year. Music icon Ringo Starr teams with bluegrass luminary Molly Tuttle on a song from his newly released country album Look Up, while Lily Rose, Kip Moore, Kat Luna, Kameron Marlowe and Chancey Williams also start off 2025 with new songs.
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Check out all of these and more in Billboard‘s roundup of the best country, bluegrass and/or Americana songs of the week below.
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Ringo Starr feat. Molly Tuttle, “I Live for Your Love”
Starr previously issued a country-leaning, Nashville-recorded album in 1970 with his project Beaucoups of Blues. Now, he mines the rich, stylistically vast realms of country, bluegrass and pop again on his new album Looking Up, which finds Starr teaming with T Bone Burnett and a slate of top-flight musicians including Krauss, Billy Strings, Molly Tuttle, Larkin Poe and Lucius. Among the gems on the album is this Starr/Tuttle collaboration, a lush country construction that centers on lasting love. “I live in the moment, I live in the now/ I live for your love,” they sing, with Tuttle’s airy soprano an understated, uplifting foil for Starr’s unmistakable voice.
Chancey Williams, “The Ballad of Uncle Don”
Thick slabs of fiddle and a jaunty, full-throttle rhythm bolster this vividly-detailed tribute to Williams’ uncle, “an Oklahoma roughneck” known for breaking in horses that would throw most other cowboys. A compelling meld of authentic storytelling that infuses his family’s experiences, alongside a heady mix of country tinged with rock influences, and Williams’ undeniably country voice. Williams, a Wyoming native who is one of only two artists (the other being the late Chris LeDoux) to compete in the rodeo as well as perform on the main stage at Cheyenne Frontier Days, keeps issuing one stellar track after another.
Kameron Marlowe, “Hello Whiskey”
Marlowe, possessor of a sonorous, grainy vocal style both commanding and soulful, puts that formidable instrument to great effect, as he continues his upward trajectory with this song of a broken-hearted figure intent on numbing his anguish with copious amounts of liquor. Written by Marlowe, Kendell Marvel and Phil O’Donnell, this somber track is one of several that are laser-focused on exploring the nuances of emotional crisis on Marlowe’s upcoming EP, Sad Songs for the Soul, out Feb. 21.
Kat Luna, “Happiest I’ve Ever Been”
Luna follows up previous releases such as “That Girl” with this post-breakup ballad. Lyrically, Luna’s English-Spanish hybrid details her emotional arc from heartbreak to healing. Tender guitar and Nathan Chapman’s understated production keep Luna’s voice as the song’s fulcrum, highlighting her vocal dexterity. Luna wrote this ballad with Erika Ender, Josh Kerr and Peytan Porter. Track after track, Luna keeps steadily building her resume as a compelling country vocalist and emotionally transparent writer.
Peter Rowan and Wyatt Ellis, “Winds of Rowan County”
Bluegrass music icon Rowan, whose own career was ushered into national prominence when he was a young instrumentalist in the 1960s performing with Bill Monroe’s Bluegrass Boys, now teams with 15-year-old mandolin prodigy Ellis for the title track to Ellis’ new double-sided single. Ellis wrote the song as an instrumental at age 13, after performing at Rowan’s Bluegrass Music Hall of Fame induction ceremony. Rowan worked with Ellis to add lyrics to the resonant, lilting instrumentation, meshing strikingly well with Rowan’s haunting voice. Together, they’ve crafted a powerful, intergenerational recording that highlights bluegrass music’s legacy and future.
Kip Moore, “Bad Spot”
Moore previews his upcoming album Solitary Tracks (out Feb. 28 via Virgin Music Group) with this swaggering reflection on losing a lover during a less mature moment in life. “That old me in my mirror, he ain’t the guy you need,” Moore sings on this song, written by Casey Beathard (“The Outsiders,” “Homeboy”). This piano-led, mid-tempo groove is spearheaded by Moore’s rugged, heart-on-his-sleeve vocal. He sings of being in a more wisened stage of life, having put some of his youthful weaknesses behind him, and in a position to give love another shot.
MacKenzie Porter and Jake Etheridge (Thelma & James), “Happy Ever After You”
Porter and Etheridge first teased this haunting ballad in December on TikTok, to much acclaim. Now, this married couple, who blend their musical talents as Thelma and James, offer up this pared-back ballad of a love undimmed by the time and miles between them. The urge to cover old tattoos and keep retelling oneself a false narrative war with truth-telling memories bound in old photographs and names carved in a tree. The two vocalists translate the emotional push and pull of longing versus denial on lyrics such as “I got half a mind to give you a call/ But I ain’t chasin’ after you,” with the song’s gentle instrumentation empowering their graceful voices.
Lily Rose, “Let You Know When I Get There”
Rose is quite the songwriter in her own right, but on “Let You Know When I Get There,” she leans on the writing talents of Ben Stennis, Michael Tyler and Hunter Phelps. This heart-tugger of a ballad tunes into a lifetime of deep-seated lessons and moments drawn from lasting familial relationships, whether it a mother asking her teen to check in after meeting with friends, or a grandfather doling out advice. Rose turns in a slightly more traditional-leaning country ballad than she is often known for, but one that still rings with her distinct, dusky, conversational vocal style and polished, understated instrumentation.
Yeezy season has returned. Ye — formerly known as Kanye West — has made noise on social media since his return at the top of 2025, and he’s got his sights set on a new solo album. West further teased his Bully project with a pair of posts to Instagram on Monday — one with […]
LISA has been hitting the ground running ever since BLACKPINK went on hiatus more than a year ago, allowing all four girls to pursue their own solo projects. For the 27-year-old singer-rapper, that’s meant releasing a string of singles, polishing up a debut album, delivering show-stopping performances and making her acting debut in Mike White’s White Lotus.
But one of those feathers in her cap stands out from the rest, LISA revealed in a new cover story interview with V magazine. “I’m proud of every single thing,” she told the publication. “But if I really, really have to pick a favorite, I would say the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show.”
LISA was one of a few A-list artists who performed on the catwalk in October as part of an all-women lineup rounded out by Cher and Tyla. The New York City showcase marked the highly anticipated return of the lingerie brand’s annual televised fashion show after six years.
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The interview comes just over a month ahead of the K-pop star’s upcoming debut album, Alter Ego, which will drop Feb. 28. LISA has steadily been getting fans ready for the project by releasing singles “Rockstar,” “New Woman” featuring Rosalia and “Moonlit Floor,” the first of which reached No. 70 on the Billboard Hot 100.
The musician has also been gearing up for the release of White Lotus‘ third season, in which she stars as an employee of the show’s fictional hotel chain location in Thailand. Little else is known about her character, but while speaking to V, LISA said that she was “all over the place” when figuring out how to navigate acting for the first time.
“This was my first acting gig, so when I started, I had to prepare so many things,” she told the publication. “It’s a whole new world to me … But on the first day of the shoot, everybody was so supportive.”
“Thai people are proud,” she added of the third season’s location. “I love Thai culture. Some people already know how incredible it is, but I feel like [this show] is a chance to let the world know more about Thailand and its beauty.”
See LISA on the cover of V below.
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Ferg, formerly known as A$AP Ferg, emerged and rose to stardom as a member of the sprawling A$AP Mob collective that boasted well over a dozen members at its heights. Largely inactive for a few years, Ferg shared an update about A$AP Mob in a new interview with veteran journalist, Touré.
Ferg sat down for an interview with the Touré Show and shared his views of where the A$AP Mob exists today, his hand in creating the collective, and where his career is heading now that he’s largely on his own.
“I don’t think there is A$AP [Mob] anymore,” Ferg began, answering Touré’s inquiry on the status of the collective. “It’s not a Cozy Tape out, not a new one, there’s not a office, it’s not a record label, A$AP Worldwide is not a record label. I think it’s a thing of the past.”
He continued, “I think people hold on to the legacy that we created and those things but when you think about A$AP, I think, from the music point, you think about me and Rocky who did the music and all of that. Of course, it was built on the back of Bari and Yams and all of that but we’re the faces. So I feel like if we not making no music, and not putting out no new timestamps, then there’s no A$AP.”
Ferg continued by saying that he’s solely focused on his own movement but doesn’t have any issues with A$AP Rocky or any past members of the crew, and instead is focusing on his musical direction and his latest album, Darold.
The A$AP Mob’s last release, Cozy Tapes Vol. 2: Too Cozy, was released in 2017 on Polo Grounds/RCA and later was certified Gold by the RIAA.
Check out the interview in full below.
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Photo: Getty
HipHopWired Featured Video
Ferg, formerly known as A$AP Ferg, emerged and rose to stardom as a member of the sprawling A$AP Mob collective that boasted well over a dozen members at its heights. Largely inactive for a few years, Ferg shared an update about A$AP Mob in a new interview with veteran journalist, Touré.
Ferg sat down for an interview with the Touré Show and shared his views of where the A$AP Mob exists today, his hand in creating the collective, and where his career is heading now that he’s largely on his own.
“I don’t think there is A$AP [Mob] anymore,” Ferg began, answering Touré’s inquiry on the status of the collective. “It’s not a Cozy Tape out, not a new one, there’s not a office, it’s not a record label, A$AP Worldwide is not a record label. I think it’s a thing of the past.”
He continued, “I think people hold on to the legacy that we created and those things but when you think about A$AP, I think, from the music point, you think about me and Rocky who did the music and all of that. Of course, it was built on the back of Bari and Yams and all of that but we’re the faces. So I feel like if we not making no music, and not putting out no new timestamps, then there’s no A$AP.”
Ferg continued by saying that he’s solely focused on his own movement but doesn’t have any issues with A$AP Rocky or any past members of the crew, and instead is focusing on his musical direction and his latest album, Darold.
The A$AP Mob’s last release, Cozy Tapes Vol. 2: Too Cozy, was released in 2017 on Polo Grounds/RCA and later was certified Gold by the RIAA.
Check out the interview in full below.
—
Photo: Getty
Metalcore band Ice Nine Kills has stepped up to offer relief for some of the people who’ve been impacted by the devastating Los Angeles wildfires. The Boston-bred group announced over the weekend the launch of a fundraiser they’ve dubbed “Heed the Call For California,” with 100% of the proceeds going to the California Fire Foundation […]