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04 Dec 2024

Parmalee Crowns Country Airplay With ‘Gonna Love You’: ‘Having It Connect With So Many People Is Pretty Emotional’

Parmalee earns its fourth leader on Billboard’s Country Airplay chart as “Gonna Love You” jumps 6-1 on the list dated Dec. 7. During Nov. 22-28, it advanced by 28% to 28.8 million audience impressions, according to Luminate.

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The single, from the band’s upcoming LP, was written by Parmalee frontman Matt Thomas with Abram Dean, David Fanning and Andy Sheridan. It was produced by Fanning (who is also the group’s manager). Parmalee records for Stoney Creek Records, under the Broken Bow Records umbrella.

The act is rounded out by Scott Thomas (Matt’s brother), Barry Knox (a cousin of the Thomases) and Josh McSwain.

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The official video for “Gonna Love You” starkly chronicles a shooting involving armed robbers on the band’s bus following a show in 2010, which culminated with Scott Thomas being critically injured.

“‘Gonna Love You’ is personal to all four of us,” the band collectively tells Billboard. “It allowed us to tell our story and film the music video, which recreates the night we were robbed after a show that resulted in a shooting. A lot of people think it’s just a love song, so it’s been amazing hearing and seeing the responses when they see the video and find out what the song is really about. Having it connect with so many people and go to No. 1 is pretty emotional. But at the same time, we’re like, hell yeah … it was the right song at the right time for us.”

“Gonna Love You” follows Parmalee’s “Girl in Mine,” which reached No. 3 on Country Airplay in October 2023. Before that, the group led with “Take My Name,” for two weeks in June 2022, and “Just the Way,” with Blanco Brown (one week, March 2021). The act first reigned with “Carolina” for a week in December 2013 and has scored two additional top 10s: “Already Callin’ You Mine” (No. 10, December 2015) and “Close Your Eyes” (No. 4, December 2014).

Shaboozey Parties On

Shaboozey’s multi-genre smash “A Bar Song (Tipsy)” logs a 24th week atop Hot Country Songs, tying Walker Hayes’ “Fancy Like” (2021-22) and Florida Georgia Line’s “Cruise” (2012-13) for the fifth-longest command since the chart became the genre’s singular songs survey in 1958. The tracktotaled 68.1 million in all-format airplay audience, 20.5 million official U.S. streams and 9,000 sold Nov. 22-28.

A week earlier, “A Bar Song (Tipsy)” tied Lil Nas X’s “Old Town Road,” featuring Billy Ray Cyrus, for the longest command – 19 weeks – in the all-genre Billboard Hot 100’s history.

Zach Top 10

Zach Top’s“I Never Lie” rises 13-10 on Hot Country Songs, awarding the Sunnyside, Wash., native his first top 10. His co-written single drew 8.8 million streams (up 13%) and sold 2,000. On Country Airplay, it climbs 39-33 (4.5 million impressions, up 33%). The song follows Top’s “Sounds Like the Radio,” which reached Nos. 29 and 15 on the charts, respectively.

04 Dec 2024

Ranking The 10 Hottest Female Rappers of 2024 | Billboard

Billboard staffers are ranking the 10 Hottest Female Rappers of 2024. From Megan Thee Stallion to Latto to Cardi B, we’re explaining why these artists made our list. Do you agree with No. 1? Let us know who you think your Hottest Female Rapper of 2024 is in the comments below!

Carl Lamarre:
The Hottest Female MC of 2024.

Cartise Johnson:
Cardi B is our No. 10, Hottest Female MC of 2024. She is staying consistent in putting out music, which I don’t think a lot of other rappers can say they’re doing or have done in 2024. Cardi B deserves to be on this list because she has contributed multiple singles in this year. We have “Enough (Miami),” which is a Grammy-nominated song. She also is featured on multiple records with Shakira, Rob49, Peso Pluma, and she was on the wannabe remix with GloRilla and Megan Thee Stallion. Cardi B, again, is Grammy nominated, and I’m so happy she’s at No. 10, and hopefully in 2025, we can get her to No. 1. Period.

Gail Mitchell:
Our No. 9 on the list of Female MCs for 2024 is Rapsody. When we did the first six months, the one name that we did not have on the list was Rapsody’s, and we got some pushback from folks, and I’d been pushing saying, “Let’s look again.” There’s a lot of artists out there who are true to their craft, and for them, it’s more about making the music. And I think she’s telling her truth in the way she wants to do it. She’s multi-generational. I share some things with my daughter listening to Rapsody and vice versa. Rapsody deserves to be on this list. If you do not think so, then go back and listen to her discography in order. Her flow, her metaphors, she’s just such a gifted lyricist.

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04 Dec 2024

John Sykes Recalls Convincing Jay-Z to Attend His 2021 Rock Hall Induction Ceremony: Book Excerpt

A time capsule of Jay-Z’s decorated career was on display at the Brooklyn Public Library in 2023, and the immersive exhibit has been turned into The Book of HOV: A Tribute to Jay-Z.

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Published by Assouline, The Book of HOV coffee table book was released on Wednesday (Dec. 4), which is also Jay’s 55th birthday.

The classic version of the collector’s item is available for $120, while the ultimate version is going to run fans $2,000, as a portion of the proceeds will be donated to the Brooklyn Public Library. The tome is filled with nearly 700 iconic images broken down into eight chapters depicting different pillars of Jay-Z’s artistry, along with personal essays penned by those who know the Roc Nation mogul best.

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One of those legendary images from Jay’s career is his Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction, from when he became the first solo rap act to enter the HoF as part of the class of 2021. But it wasn’t exactly a smooth ride from the time Mr. Carter received the induction call to getting on stage at the ceremony to make a moving acceptance speech.

Rock and Roll Hall of Fame chairman John Sykes had his work cut out for him convincing Hov to make the trip to Cleveland, and Billboard can exclusively reveal his poignant essay as an excerpt from The Book of HOV.

Sykes recalled Jay imploring, “Rock is dead. Rap is the new rock!” He spent the next half-hour explaining how six of the first 10 artists in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame were Black, and there would be no rock n’ roll without Black artists.

“My last words, as I pleaded for Jay to come to Cleveland to accept his award, were that rock n’ roll is not any one sound, rather a gumbo,” he wrote. “To paraphrase the great Barry Gordy, rock n’ roll created the sound of young America. It’s a spirit, and the spirit of hip-hop and rap connected rock n’ roll with an entirely new generation.”

Sykes was in the dark and didn’t hear from Hov until Jay-Z and his family showed up in Cleveland on Oct. 30, 2021, and the chairman could breathe a sigh of relief. The rapper’s induction video included star-studded cameos from wife Beyoncé, LeBron James, Rihanna, Chris Rock, Usher, Rick Ross, Dave Letterman and his daughter Blue Ivy.

Introduced by Dave Chappelle, Jay-Z took the stage and moved the room with his speech detailing his journey from Marcy Projects to mogul status, while paying respect to the legends who paved the way before him.

Read the excerpt in full below.

The Book of HOV: A Tribute to Jay-Z

The Book of HOV: A Tribute to Jay-Z

There have been few times in my years in the music industry where I have been a witness to a
single moment that changed popular culture forever. Being in the room when we launched
MTV on August 1st , 1981, was one of them. The night of October 30th, 2021, in Cleveland,
Ohio was another.

The occasion was the 36th Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Induction ceremony at a sold-out sports
arena in Cleveland, just down the street from the storied Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Museum. The museum was established to honor those artists whose original sounds created and promoted the growth of Rock and Roll Music and had a profound impact on culture. Gathered backstage that evening was a “who’s who” in music and arts, from Paul McCartney to Taylor Swift, Dave Chappell, Angela Bassett, Jennifer Hudson, Eminem, Lionel Richie, Keith Urban, Drew Barrymore, Jennifer Lopez and more. All had traveled to Cleveland from around the globe to induct and honor the Class of 2021 inductees which included: LL Cool J (the original GOAT), Tina Turner, Clarence Avant, The GoGo’s, The Foo Fighters, Billy Preston, Charley Patton, Carole King, Gil Scott-Heron, Kraftwerk, Fela Kuti, Todd Rundgren, Randy Rhoads, and JAY-Z.

I had just been named the third Chairman in the history of the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, which was founded in 1986. It was a dream job for me, as a lifelong obsessed music fan. I accepted the position with one promise and vision; to honor the original mission of the Hall, which was to recognize artists who, regardless of race, gender, or style, contributed to the continued growth and spirit of Rock & Roll music. Rock & Roll was born in 1955 not from one singular sound, but rather a collision of Rhythm & Blues, Gospel, and Country, and continues to evolve as new artists and sounds are created.

Artists spend their entire careers hoping to one day be inducted into the Hall of Fame. It’s a rare honor. On the day the ’21 inductees were announced, I personally called my longtime friend JAY Z to give him the good news. We had worked together for over two decades during my time at MTV, VH1, iHeartRadio, and as a board member of the New York charity, the Robin Hood Foundation. I was beyond excited, as JAY had made the coveted ’21 inductee list on his first year of eligibility, which is a seldom accomplished feat. And, while the Hall of Fame had previously inducted great rappers like Grandmaster Flash, Public Enemy and N.W.A, JAY stood out. He was not only the greatest rapper of his time but was now an icon for bringing Hip Hop to the mainstream, as well as becoming an enormously successful business executive, and a beacon for culture.

This was exactly the direction that I envisioned the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame moving towards. However, JAY’s response to my good news was not exactly what I was expecting. “Rock is dead,” he said. “Rap is the new Rock.” For the next 30 minutes I explained to him that “Rock” is not “Rock & Roll”. Yes, it’s an important part, but it’s only one part. In fact, six of the first ten artists inducted into the Hall of Fame were Black: James Brown, Fats Domino, Ray Charles, Chuck Berry, Sam Cooke, and Little Richard. The next year Aretha Franklin, Marvin Gaye, and Bo Diddley were inducted. Without Black artists there would be no Rock & Roll.

My last words, as I pleaded for JAY to come to Cleveland to accept his award, were that Rock & Roll is not any one sound, rather a gumbo. To paraphrase the great Barry Gordy, Rock & Roll created the sound of young America. It’s a spirit, and the spirit of Hip Hop and Rap connected Rock & Roll with an entirely new generation.

Then, we waited.

On the induction evening of October 30th JAY-Z arrived in Cleveland with his family and team. After a moving induction video featuring “A-list” pop culture icons, including a former President of the United States, Dave Chappelle took the stage to give a powerful induction speech. He then invited JAY to come up to accept his statue. What followed was a speech for the ages. Just like Little Richard, Chuck Berry, Bob Dylan, Aretha Franklin, Bruce Springsteen, or Paul McCartney did before him, JAY told the 16,000 people in the room, and millions more watching on television, his own story of being turned down by record companies who called his music “trash”, and how he refused to compromise, never giving in to conventional wisdom. JAY looked over to his fellow inductee LL Cool J and gave him his admiration and thanks. He then ended his passionate speech, holding his statue high in the air proclaiming, “Now THAT’s Rock & Roll”.

The crowd roared. JAY smiled and walked off the stage and to the exit, knowing that he had accomplished his mission of recognizing rap as a true force in music and culture, while at the same time opening the door for the next generation of musical dreamers and creators to follow in his footsteps and continue to honor and evolve the attitude, spirit, and many sounds of Rock & Roll.

John Sykes
Chairman, Rock & Roll Hall of Fame

04 Dec 2024

The 10 Hottest Female Rappers of 2024

After releasing the first iteration of the Hottest Female Rappers List in June, Billboard returns with the final rankings for 2024.

In June, Billboard unveiled the inaugural Hottest Female Rappers List, sparking a wave of discussions online. Nicki Minaj claimed the top spot, followed by Sexxy Red and Megan Thee Stallion at Nos. 2 and 3, respectively. And even in a year dominated by rap beef, the rapid production of high-quality records by women rappers has been impossible to overlook.

Rappers like Flo Milli — who made a mark on the list in June (ranked at No. 10) following the success of her top 20 record, “Never Lose Me” — scored major collaborations with industry heavyweights like Megan Thee Stallion and Childish Gambino. Meanwhile, Doechii’s rise to rap prominence was marked by her third mixtape, Alligator Bites Never Heal, and four Grammy nominations.

Not to be overshadowed, emerging artists like JT, who leveraged her experience from City Girls to establish herself as a solo artist with City Cinderella, and rising stars like Samara Cyn, Anycia and Karrahboo are proving that they are more than just everyday rookies. Their potential to make a significant impact on the mainstream rap scene in the coming year is undeniable.

And, of course, the heralded Big 3 of Nicki, Megan and Cardi remained formidable, crossing barriers we’ve never seen before, including Minaj’s record-breaking tour.

Like in June, the list below takes into account record quality, chart success, cultural buzz, notable business endeavors and partnerships and touring success. Read on to see who cracked Billboard’s year-end hottest female rappers list.

04 Dec 2024

Gloss Up Says She Is No Longer With Label QC, “Finally Free”

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Looks like Gloss Up & Quality Control Music may have parted ways. The Memphis rapper recently interviewed with Khaotic, where she revealed that QC didn’t let her release new music because they thought her sound had become repetitive, “It’s like people don’t be giving me the motivation. The only thing I’m hearing when I go to the studio is this ain’t, this ain’t, this ain’t it? So it’s like, ok, I just want to step back and f**king catch my breath because I don’t know what the f**k y’all want from me.”Someone from Gloss’s close circle must have leaked a screenshot of a close friend post on Instagram of her basically confirming that the rumors are true about being a free agent. Stating “Finally free! Finna pop it”. Which seems like our girl is in good spirits.

If you remember, in the Season 3 trailer of Impact ATL, she was told that if she had been signed to a different label, she probably would’ve been dropped already. Gloss first hit the scene when she, Slimeroni, Aleza & Hitkidd linked up for the smash ‘Shabooya’ in September 2022. In this smash, each rapper took a moment to pop their ish and hype themselves up (with some fire adlibs of course) showing off their personalities and their humor. They all joke about men tirckin’ and dumping them if they don’t keep the spoiling going. This instantly hit the soul of each material girl out there listening to the track. 

Check out Gloss Up’s recent visit to Bossip’s ‘Alright, So Boom!” Podcast:

04 Dec 2024

Eminem’s Half-Brother Nate Mathers Post About ‘Mixed Emotions’ Following Mother Debbie Nelson’s Death

While Eminem has not yet commented on the death this week of his mother Debbie Nelson at 69 due to complications from advanced lung cancer, the rapper’s half-brother Nathan “Nate” Mathers issued a terse, five-word reaction to the loss.

“Hatred and mixed emotions today,” Nate Mathers wrote on his Instagram Stories on Tuesday (Dec. 3) in a curt message in keeping with the sometimes contentious Mathers family dynamic between mother and sons. Nelson died in St. Joseph, MO on Monday and at press time Marshall had not yet issued a public statement about the loss of the woman who was frequently a subject of disdain and ridicule in his songs before their more recent rapprochement.

Music producer Nate was Nelson’s youngest son, born to her and partner Fred Samra when Eminem was 13-years-old; she married the MC’s father, Marshall Mathers Jr., when she was 16 and gave birth to Eminem (born Marshall Mathers) two years later in 1972. Eminem became Nate’s legal guardian when his half-brother turned 16.

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Eminem was often at odds with his mother in his music, lashing out at her on such hits as 2002’s “Cleanin’ Out My Closet,” on which he rapped about his mother abusing prescription pills and said, “Wasn’t it the reason you made that CD for me, Ma?/ So you could try to justify the way you treated me, Ma?/ But guess what, you’re gettin’ older now, and it’s cold when you’re lonely/ And Nathan’s growin’ up so quick, he’s gonna know that you’re phony.”

He also took aim at her on his iconic 1999 Slim Shady LP track “My Name Is,” rapping, “99 percent of my life, I was lied to/ I just found out my mom does more dope than I do/ I told her I’d grow up to be a famous rapper/ Make a record about doin’ drugs and name it after her.”

Nelson sued Eminem for defamation in 1999, seeking $11 million in damages; the judge ruled in her favor, but she was only awarded $25,000 in a 2001 judgement. She later delved into their prickly relationship in her 2007 tell-all memoir My Son Marshall, My Son Eminem. Years later, on the 2013 Marshall Mathers LP 2 track “Headlights” he extended an olive branch when he apologized with the lyrics, “I went in headfirst, never thinkin’ about who, what I said hurt/ In what verse, my mom probably got it the worst/ The brunt of it, but as stubborn as we are, did I take it too far?/ ‘Cleanin’ Out My Closet’ and all them other songs/ But regardless, I don’t hate you ’cause, ma/ You’re still beautiful to me, ’cause you’re my ma.”

The thaw continued in 2022, when Nelson gave her son kudos for his induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, saying in a video, “Marshall, I want to say, I could not let this day go by without congratulating you on your induction into the Hall of Fame. I love you very much. I knew you’d get there. It’s been a long ride. I’m very, very proud of you. And also I’m very proud of [granddaughter] Hailie Jade, my big girl. I want to tell you, Hailie, great job on your podcast and God bless you guys. I love you very much.”

04 Dec 2024

Trump’s Defense Secretary Pick Hegseth Allegedly A Raging Drunkard

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Pete Hegseth 12/03

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A new report contains serious allegations against Donald Trump’s pick for Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, claiming that he’s a rabid drunkard.

A new report has revealed more bombshell allegations about Pete Hegseth, President-elect Donald Trump’s nominee to head the Department of Defense, being “repeatedly intoxicated” in several public instances. The report details these instances occurring while Hegseth ran two non-profit veteran advocacy groups, Veterans for Freedom and Concerned Veterans for America.

“A previously undisclosed whistle-blower report on Hegseth’s tenure as the president of Concerned Veterans for America, from 2013 until 2016, describes him as being repeatedly intoxicated while acting in his official capacity—to the point of needing to be carried out of the organization’s events,” wrote reporter Jane Meyer in The New Yorker. The article goes on to reveal that “at one point, Hegseth had to be restrained while drunk from joining the dancers on the stage of a Louisiana strip club, where he had brought his team. The report also says that Hegseth, who was married at the time, and other members of his management team sexually pursued the organization’s female staffers, whom they divided into two groups—the “party girls” and the “not party girls.”

Another former colleague claimed that Hegseth drunkenly chanted “Kill All Muslims!” at a bar in Ohio, while another stated: “I’ve seen him drunk so many times. I’ve seen him dragged away not a few times but multiple times. To have him at the Pentagon would be scary.” The report comes days after the New York Times published a damning email that was sent to Hegseth in 2018 by his mother, where she called him “an abuser of women” and decried his lack of character. Penelope Hegseth stated that she apologized to him in a follow-up email when contacted by the press.

The added controversy is expected to weigh heavily on Hegseth as Senate confirmation hearings will take place in January when Trump takes office. Those on social media didn’t waste time in seeing the situation as a disaster, noting that it’s another example of Trump’s desire to fill his cabinet with more disreputable people who are loyalists to him.

04 Dec 2024

‘Wicked’ Reportedly Banned in Kuwait Over LGBTQ+ Casting

Despite the fact that Wicked is undeniably “Popular,” the film won’t be making an appearance in Kuwait theaters any time soon.

According to a report from Variety on Wednesday (Dec. 4), the Jon M. Chu-directed musical adaptation has been removed from theater listings across Kuwait just days before its slated release in the country on Thursday (Dec. 5). This is not the first time the country has banned a popular film with short notice. Back in 2023, Kuwait’s government banned Barbie from being shown to protect “public ethics” in the country, and for portraying “ideas and beliefs that are alien to Kuwaiti society and public order.”

While public officials in Kuwait have yet to reveal a reason why the film was removed from cinemas, local media in the country have speculated that the ban is in regard to an unspecified LGBTQ+ character in the film and the film’s cast of LGBTQ+ actors. Cynthia Erivo, who stars as Elphaba, openly identifies as queer, as do co-stars Jonathan Bailey, Bowen Yang, Marissa Bode and Bronwyn James.

Billboard has reached out to representatives for Universal Pictures, Republic Records and individual cast members for comment.

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The news comes after a record-breaking debut for the film — thus far, Wicked has grossed $263.1 million in ticket sales in the U.S., and $359.2 million globally, making it the highest grossing film adaptation of a Broadway musical in history. The soundtrack, meanwhile, also made history with its No. 2 debut on the Billboard 200 — the highest first-week ranking for an adaptation of a stage musical in the chart’s history. The soundtrack also topped multiple Billboard charts, including Top Album Sales, Soundtracks and Vinyl Albums.

04 Dec 2024

More Than 10 Producers on Ye’s ‘Vultures’ Albums Can’t Get Paid: ‘It’s a Mess’

Attorneys in the music industry are a competitive bunch. They vie for high-performing clients and duel with each other over deal points; battle is in their blood. 

Perhaps unexpectedly, a number of these attorneys have joined forces recently, unified by a common goal: Getting their producer clients paid for their contributions to Vultures 1, the first of two 2024 albums from Ye (formerly known as Kanye West) and Ty Dolla $ign. 

Since its February release, Vultures 1 has earned more than 817,000 album equivalent units in the U.S., according to Luminate — including over 1 billion on-demand streams — and a Grammy nomination for the hit “Carnival.” But more than 10 producers on the album do not have signed agreements in place with Ye, meaning they are unable to collect fees, as well as potential producer royalties and publishing income, for their work. And several of the producers who worked on Vultures 2, which came out in August, share the same unpaid fate as their colleagues who worked on the first installment.

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“We have clients who’ve produced music on the Vultures album(s) and have still not been paid for their services even though both albums have been released,” Bob Celestin, a music attorney, told Billboard via email. “Presently, we have no idea when payment will be made, which is so unfortunate and unfair. You would think Ye would be more sensitive to this issue because he is a producer.”

“We’ve had trouble receiving a producer agreement from Ye,” adds Brittney Trigg, another lawyer who represents a producer on Vultures 1. A representative for the star did not respond to a request for comment.

This problem continues to plague the music industry at its highest levels. Jason Berger, a partner at Lewis Brisbois, estimates that in “nine out of 10 deals, the producer has not been paid the day the music comes out.” And due to the volume of new releases, the high number of collaborators on some albums, shrinking major-label staffs, and the mercurial nature of superstars — who have to sign off on producer agreements even if they are running around the world on tour — Celestin says that producers often don’t get paid for a year or more after albums come out. 

“The more convoluted the system gets, the less money comes down to the people that are actually making the product,” says Nima Nasseri, who manages the producer Hit-Boy. (Hit-Boy was not involved with Vultures 1.) “Why do people have to fight to get paid?” Nasseri asks.

In Ye’s case, five lawyers with clients on Vultures 1 say that getting them compensated for their work has been even more challenging than usual.

The superstar has cycled through at least two attorneys to help with clearances and is now relying on a third, the lawyers says. Longtime Ye associate 88-Keys was initially involved in negotiations with producers; more recently, Matt Geffen from the Revels Group has taken on a prominent role. (Geffen did not respond to a request for comment.) On top of that, Ye also changed distributors, leaving Label Engine, which is owned by Create Music Group, in favor of Too Lost. (Vultures 1 and 2 were released independently.)

In a typical distribution deal, artists are responsible for clearing songs and disbursing royalties to collaborators. Distribution companies are usually shielded from legal liability, though many offer tools to help streamline the royalty splitting process once clearances are completed.

Still, earlier this year, attorneys for a number of producers on Vultures 1 banded together, coordinating their efforts via a group chat, to draft threatening legal letters to send to Create, since no royalties were flowing to their clients. They hoped that, in a relatively small industry that places a premium on maintaining good relationships, their collective weight might convince Create to try to help them. (A representative for Create declined to comment.) Before the messages could be sent, however, Ye switched distributors. 

The producers on Vultures 1 may find cold comfort in the fact that even Atlantic Records — the label to which Ty Dolla $ign is signed — is having a tough time getting paid, according to a source close to the situation. (West alluded to this in an Instagram post in September.) The source says Too Lost is now holding money for Atlantic and other rights holders and working with Ye’s team to clear the records accordingly. Representatives for both Atlantic and Too Lost declined to comment.

The challenges that producers face in getting paid in a timely manner seem all but certain to persist. “The industry’s ‘back of house’ infrastructure really isn’t designed to handle dozens of producers and other collaborators on a single project,” says Tim Kappel, an entertainment attorney. “There are inevitably going to be delays even when everyone is operating in good faith. Throw in a few bad actors here and there, and it’s easy to understand why producers are feeling aggrieved.” 

The sad truth is that producers can’t do much to redress those grievances. They have very little leverage once they have turned over the files containing the music that will appear on an artist’s album. 

At this point, “we have no recourse besides to try to sue [Ye],” says one attorney with a client on Vultures 1. “But that’s costly.” And, as another music lawyer points out, “Legal claims against Ye don’t really seem to go anywhere.”

In situations where producers are frustrated because they haven’t been paid for their work, their representatives often “threaten to file a takedown notice on the recording,” according to Kappel. “But this is inappropriate since the DMCA takedown process can only be used to report copyright infringements,” he continues. “There is simply no cause of action for infringement among co-authors.” There have been several attempts to take down tracks on Vultures 1, all unsuccessful, according to multiple lawyers with knowledge of the back-and-forth behind the scenes. 

Some producers who contributed to the album did receive deal offers from Ye’s team this fall. However, those offers were buyouts, according to multiple attorneys, meaning the producer would accept a flat fee and not receive any royalties if the album recouped its costs. Recoupment may be out of reach — as Ty Dolla $ign told Billboard in June, Vultures 1 is “a very expensive album” recorded between Las Vegas, Miami, Los Angeles, Japan, Italy, Saudi Arabia and Dubai. Still, buying out producers in this fashion is atypical, and multiple lawyers for Vultures 1 producers rejected the offers. 

Sources close to Ye now believe he is planning to release another album soon, meaning that the star could put out three uncleared projects in a single year. “It’s a mess,” says one attorney involved with Vultures 1 clearances. “I just keep going back to that word.”

04 Dec 2024

Watch ROSÉ of BLACKPINK Channel George Michael for a Live Cover of This Wham! Hit

ROSÉ of BLACKPINK is giving her apt. some holiday spruce.

While at BBC Radio 1’s Live Lounge Tuesday (Dec. 3), the 27-year-old pop star covered Wham!’s 1984 classic “Last Christmas” as well as performed a solo rendition of her smash Bruno Mars duet “APT.” For the former, she channeled her inner George Michael, melancholy while sitting on a stool, reading the heartfelt lyrics off a music stand in front of her, and dancing along during the Billboard Hot 100 No. 4 hit’s musical high points. 

“A face-on lover with a fire in his heart/ A man undercover, but you tore him apart,” she sang before letting her New Zealander side shine through with a spoken-word “Well, maybe next year, mate.” 

“I’ll give it to someone, I’ll give it to someone special,” ROSÉ softly crooned to finish out the track, clapping her hands. 

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For “APT.,” the K-pop phenom ramped up the energy, joining her backup singers and keyboardist in doing hand movements to pay homage to the Korean drinking game that inspired the song’s title. Without Mars on hand for the second verse, ROSÉ confidently rapped her duet partner’s parts while dancing along. 

“It’s whatever, it’s whatever, it’s whatever you like,” she belted. “I’m talking drink, dance, smoke, freak, party all night.”

ROSÉ’s pair of performances arrive as “APT.” spends its sixth week at No. 1 on the Billboard Global 200 chart. The musician’s debut solo album, rosie, is set to drop Dec. 6, featuring 12 tracks including November single “Number One Girl.”

In a recent interview with Apple Music 1’s Zane Lowe, the star opened up about feeling “pressure” to deliver a solid LP during her limited time away from full-band duties with BLACKPINK, which is currently on break until some time in 2025. “We got together and decided, ‘Let’s promise ourselves a good year to be inspired,’” she said of bandmates JENNIE, LISA and JISOO. “The first thing that happened was anxiety, because I was privileged to have this one year in my hands to do whatever I wanted with it, but I wanted it to be the right decision and it had to feel right … What if I don’t believe in my thing? And what if I’m in a place where I’m having to do things that I don’t feel like it’s me?”

Watch ROSÉ cover “Last Christmas” above, and check out her performance of “APT.” below.