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Back in 2018, Paul Simon performed the final show of what he called his farewell tour. The gig at Queens’ Flushing Meadows Corona Park in September 2018 came after Simon, 83, revealed that he was suffering from significant hearing loss, a situation that ramped-up significantly during the sessions for the singer’s 2023 song cycle, Seven Psalms.
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“Quite suddenly, I lost most of the hearing in my left ear, and nobody has an explanation for it,” he said at the time. “So everything became more difficult.” Simon said he thought the issue wold “pass” or “repair itself,” though it did not and he conceded back then that he would likely never tour again.
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Then, surprisingly, there Simon was on Sunday night (Feb. 16) opening the three-plus hour SNL50 Celebration special singing a duet with Sabrina Carpenter on his song “Homeward Bound.” And on Tuesday (Feb. 18), Simon announced that he’s hitting the road this spring and summer for a run of North American dates on the “A Quiet Celebration Tour.”
The shows that will have the Rock and Roll Hall of Famer playing multiple nights in a row in most cities, and it’s slated to kick off on April 4 at the Saenger Theater in New Orleans, followed by stops in Austin, TX, Denver, Minneapolis, Kansas City, St. Louis, Dallas, Nashville, Milwaukee, Chicago, Toronto, Vienna, VA, Boston, New York, Philadelphia, Long Beach, CA, Los Angeles, San Francisco and Vancouver before winding down with three shows at Benaroya Hall in Seattle; see the announcement poster here.
The gigs in smaller rooms than Simon has typically played, will allow the singer to perform the songs from Seven Psalms live for the first time. According to a release, the settings are “in intimate venues where the acoustics are optimal in consideration of the severe hearing loss that he incurred over the last few years.”
A presale for select shows on the tour will kick off on Thursday (Feb. 20) at 10 a.m. local time, with a public on-sale slated for Friday (Feb. 21) at 10 a.m. local time here.
Check out the dates for Paul Simon’s 2025 A Quiet Celebration North American tour below:
April 4 – New Orleans, LA @ Saenger TheaterApril 5 – New Orleans, LA @ Saenger TheaterApril 8 – Austin, TX @ Bass Concert HallApril 10 – Austin, TX @ Bass Concert HallApril 11 – Austin, TX @ Bass Concert HallApril 14 – Denver, CO @ Paramount TheatreApril 16 – Denver, CO @ Paramount TheatreApril 17 – Denver, CO @ Paramount TheatreApril 20 – Minneapolis, MN @ Orpheum TheatreApril 22 – Minneapolis, MN @ Orpheum TheatreApril 23 – Minneapolis, MN @ Orpheum TheatreApril 26 – Kansas City, MO @ Midland TheatreApril 28 – St. Louis, MO @ Stifel TheatreApril 29 – St. Louis, MO @ Stifel TheatreMay 7 – Dallas, TX @ AT&T Performing Arts CenterMay 8 – Dallas, TX @ AT&T Performing Arts CenterMay 11 – Nashville, TN @ Ryman AuditoriumMay 13 – Nashville, TN @ Ryman AuditoriumMay 14 – Nashville, TN @ Ryman AuditoriumMay 17 – Milwaukee, WI @ Riverside TheaterMay 18 – Milwaukee, WI @ Riverside TheaterMay 21 – Chicago, IL @ Symphony CenterMay 23 – Chicago, IL @ Symphony CenterMay 24 – Chicago, IL @ Symphony CenterMay 27 – Toronto, ON @ Massey HallMay 29 – Toronto, ON @ Massey HallMay 30 – Toronto, ON @ Massey HallJune 6 – Vienna, VA @ Wolf TrapJune 7 – Vienna, VA @ Wolf TrapJune 10 – Boston, MA @ Boch Center, Wang TheatreJune 12 – Boston, MA @ Boch Center, Wang TheatreJune 13 – Boston, MA @ Boch Center, Wang TheatreJune 16 – New York, NY @ Beacon TheaterJune 18 – New York, NY @ Beacon TheaterJune 20 – New York, NY @ Beacon TheaterJune 21 – New York, NY @ Beacon TheaterJune 23 – New York, NY @ Beacon TheaterJune 26 – Philadelphia, PA @ Academy of MusicJune 28 – Philadelphia, PA @ Academy of MusicJune 29 – Philadelphia, PA @ Academy of MusicJuly 7 – Long Beach, CA @ Terrace Theater, Long Beach Performing Arts CenterJuly 9 – Los Angeles, CA @ Disney HallJuly 11 – Los Angeles, CA @ Disney HallJuly 12 – Los Angeles, CA @ Disney HallJuly 14 – Los Angeles, CA @ Disney HallJuly 16 – Los Angeles, CA @ Disney HallJuly 19 – San Francisco, CA @ Davies Symphony HallJuly 21 – San Francisco, CA @ Davies Symphony HallJuly 22 – San Francisco, CA @ Davies Symphony HallJuly 25 – Vancouver, BC @ The OrpheumJuly 26 – Vancouver, BC @ The OrpheumJuly 28 – Vancouver, BC @ The OrpheumJuly 31 – Seattle, WA @ Benaroya HallAugust 2 – Seattle, WA @ Benaroya HallAugust 3 – Seattle, WA @ Benaroya Hall
Kendrick Lamar takes over the top 10 of the Hot 100, but will he hit No. 1 again? Tetris Kelly: The Grammys followed by the Super Bowl see some influence on the charts. This is the Billboard Hot 100 top 10 for the week dated Feb. 22. SZA and Kendrick are up to 10, “Pink Pony […]
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Source: TheStewartofNY / Getty / Tom Hanks
Hit dogs are hollering on social media after Tom Hanks put on a MAGA hat to portray a racist Donald Trump supporter during a skit on SNL 50.
Tom Hanks is feeling the wrath of MAGA Republicans for what they are saying is a “racist and disgusting” portrayal of Trump supporters on Saturday Night Live’s (SNL) 50th-anniversary special.
For the special, NBC spun the block on some of the more popular sketches, including “Black Jeopardy,” featuring Kenan Thompson, Leslie Jones, Eddie Murphy, and Tom Hanks.
For the hilarious skit, Hanks brought back his character Doug, an accurate depiction of Donald Trump’s core base of supporters who have no clue about what is going on in America outside of the right-wing echo chamber.
The Forrest Gump star first portrayed Doug in 2016 during Felon 47’s first failed presidency. In that original skit, he pointed out the differences and similarities between those who proudly support Orange Mussolini and those who give him the middle finger every chance they get.
In this new skit, Doug is the only white contestant on Black Jeopardy and refuses to shake hands with Kenan Thompson’s character, Darnell Hayes, before reluctantly agreeing to complete the gesture.
MAGA world took it as an insult, basically crying that it’s wrong to label the group of people who are proudly rallying behind immigrants being rounded up and deported and an administration on a mission to remove all DEI policies geared towards evening the playing field for Black and Brown people to “make America great again.”
Social media has been sipping on MAGA rage tears over the skit because Tom Hanks nailed the performance.
Welp.
You can see more reactions in the gallery below.
3. Nailed it.
5. We’ll wait
6. Never forget
7. So delicious
10. He sure does
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Chelsea Reject, a talented rapper out of New York who has worked alongside several underground acts such as the sprawling Beast Coast collective and others, has died. A GoFundMe for Chelsea Reject has been established by her partner to help with the costs of funeral services.
Chelsea Reject, real name Chelsea Alexander, as seen in The Express Tribune, worked alongside the likes of Mick Jenkins, Kota The Friend, Dirty Sanchez 47 of the Pro Era collective, CJ Fly, also of Pro Era fame, Joey BadA$$, AKTHESAVIOR of The Underachievers, and Raz Fresco among other underground notables.
Hip-Hop Wired has featured the Brooklyn native’s music in our CRT FRSH (Certified Fresh) playlist music roundup in times past. Reject’s last recorded project, Rogue alongside former Pro Era member T’Nah, was released in August of 2024. She also featured on Mahogany Jones’ “GO (Ma$terPiece Remix 2)” last year.
T’Nah shared a loving post in honor of CR via Instagram that we’ll share below in the gallery:
Haha we were so enthused and ready and everything was gonna change this year. She was my battery pack – we were JUST about to get back in the gym next this week. She would love that some of yall been in the gym on her behalf. Keep going. It’ll help.
Gon be so hard. To muster up the energy without you Chelsea. But yea. Not gonna take anything you taught me for granted!!!!
As seen in the Tribute piece, CR’s partner, Brian Harris, established a GoFundMe that, of this writing, has raised over 85% of its $15,000 goal.
To show your support for Chelsea Reject’s family, please follow this link. Keep scrolling to see some of CR’s past collaborators and recording partners share their condolences.
May Chelsea Reject rest powerfully in peace.
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Photo: Getty
With the NBA All-Star Game returning to The Bay Area for the first time since 2000, Saweetie — a proud Bay Area native — is booked and busy throughout the weekend’s festivities.
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Saweetie shined as part of DJ Cassidy’s Pass The Mic Live! Bay Area celebration during the NBA All-Star Game Halftime Show on Sunday (Feb. 16) alongside fellow Bay dignitaries like E-40, Too Short and En Vogue.
A day earlier, while wearing a flashy top made of metallic keys, Saweetie rocked Chase Freedom’s Cashback Courts with a 20-minute set of hits from “My Type” to “ICY GRL” and “Best Friend.” Hundreds of San Francisco fans filled the City View Metreon with many little girls representing younger versions of Saweetie in the audience gawking at their hero.
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“I love that I’m able to reach out to girls who are able to identify with me because I remember what it felt like looking up to some of my favorite artists and finding a common denominator and making it that much closer to them,” she tells Billboard in her green room following the performance. “I love seeing my Filipina queens and princesses. It always feels like a magical moment.”
With the calendar turning to 2025, Saweetie says she still has her sights on finally dropping her long-awaited, much-delayed debut album. “Yeah, it’s coming this year,” she promises. “I feel like it will really encompass who I’ve grown into over these past couple of years. Lots of stories to tell.”
Elsewhere in our conversation, Saweetie recalled working with Sabrina Carpenter in 2019 on “I Can’t Stop Me,” whom she championed a “magical woman” and detailed the full-circle moment of collaborating with LL COOL J for his The Force album last year as her mom once starred in one of his videos.
Check out the rest of our All-Star Weekend interview with the rapper who touches on her hopes for more acting roles, getting the Jill Scott co-sign and why she can’t stop playing Kendrick Lamar’s “TV Off.”
It’s dope to see a lot of the little girls that look up to you out here. To live that out is cool. Are you used to that?
It always feels like the first time because you never know what kinda response you’re gonna get when you come out.
What’s it like partnering with Chase and having it come full-circle with The Bay having All-Star Weekend for the first time in forever?
Lots of full-circle moments because I’m from The Bay and participating in such a global activation is phenomenal. We just had rehearsals this morning and it felt like a surreal moment. And to be part of the Chase Cashback Courts is another full-circle moment too because I had a college card with Chase. It was my first debit card. I opened it on my own and went into the bank and sat and did the whole process myself. Lot of full-circle moments happening in my life right now so this whole weekend feels surreal.
Your bank account’s looking a little different nowadays I think.
Very different.
What’s next for you musically?
Me and OhGeesy just dropped. I love collaborating with West Coast artists. I was in Africa for some time and I did some collaborations out there, one with ODUMODUBLVCK. It’s nice to tap into different communities. I can see myself more international with my features this year.
How was linking up with LL Cool J?
That was so amazing. You know my mom was in her video? I think “Luv U Better.” All these full-circle moments. I showed him. That was really cool too, and the video was super hot. His team felt like family and it’s nice to be welcomed by a fellow icon. You never know how those moments are gonna go, but it was so much fun.
Another one is a throwback with Sabrina Carpenter. How did that come together?
She’s always been a magical woman. When we did our collaboration, we met and she’s full of light, talent and energy so to see her blossom into something bigger than life has been such a joy to see this past year.
I think you’re the only rapper she’s ever worked with.
Oh, wow! Well, shout-out to her — we gotta do something else.
How was getting the Jill Scott sample cleared? Did you end up talking to her?
Absolutely, she is such an icon. It took some time and I had to work for it. I’m happy that we’re here now and I’m able to gladly say that she blessed me with an opportunity to make something into my own and I’m really grateful for that.
You had a cameo in BMF — more acting on the way? What’s the dream role for Saweetie?
A lot of more acting. I want to play something with action — like sci-fi/action. Something fantasy. Like a superhero or supervillain.
How many Saweetie meals did you eat at McDonald’s?
I lost count. I’m happy you liked my concoctions.
What’s your favorite Zaytoven beat?
Personally, my song “Expensive.” I don’t think it made streaming platforms, but I remember falling in love with that beat to write over it so effortlessly.
Why is your Instagram profile picture Stewie Griffin giving the middle finger?
That’s my mood. It’s facetious.
What’s one song you’re rocking with right now?
I’m telling you this, if you’re in my car and “TV Off” comes on you’re getting a full performance. The volume is high — it gets a little crazy, so put your seatbelt on.
ROSÉ isn’t slowing down any time soon. Just over two months after she dropped her debut solo album, the BLACKPINK star revealed that her girl group also has new music coming out soon in a new interview with The Cut published Tuesday (Feb. 18), in which the Aussie performer also opened up about her relationship with collaborator Bruno Mars and her thoughts on K-pop trainees needing therapy.
Fans already knew that BLACKPINK was heading for a comeback in 2025, with the group announcing earlier this month that a world tour was imminent. But in the new interview, ROSÉ went another step further and confirmed that the band will soon have fresh songs to perform once they take the stage, telling the publication straightforwardly, “We will be coming out with new music soon.”
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Of the group’s reunion, the “Toxic Till The End” singer added, “We just knew there was no reason for us to stop it, right? As much as we all needed some time to go out and explore and be our own people, we still have business left to do. We’ve got to do some more damage.”
Whenever the new music does drop, it’ll follow 2022’s Billboard 200-topper Born Pink. After touring the album across the world throughout 2023, ROSÉ and bandmates LISA, JENNIE and JISOO temporarily paused group activities to focus on solo projects for about a year.
And in ROSÉ’s case, that year “off” has seen her drop her first-ever solo LP, rosie, featuring Billboard Global 200 No. 1 single “APT.” with Bruno Mars, with whom the “On the Ground” artist says she’s grown “very close.”
Detailing how the Silk Sonic star helped her finish rosie track “Number One Girl” when she was struggling, ROSÉ shared one of the most valuable lessons she’s learned from Mars: You can’t rush the songwriting process, no matter how much you might want to. “I’d always feel like, ‘It’s my fault, I should have an idea by this time,’ or, ‘Maybe I’m just not good enough,’” she told the publication.
“Bruno showed me that, as a creative, you have to listen to your intuition and your timing, and you’re allowed to trust in it,” she continued of her duet partner. “I’ve become more confident in what feels right to me and in doing whatever it takes to have that come to life.”
But before she was a chart-topping soloist or part of the world’s biggest girl group, ROSÉ was a teenager training for future superstardom at YG Entertainment. While reflecting on her career start, she shared her thoughts on whether young signees should have built-in access to therapy as K-pop trainees — echoing what Ariana Grande recently said about young stars needing counseling in their record label contracts.
“Oh yes, please,” ROSÉ said of the idea for mandatory mental health resources. “I think toward the end of my training, there was. But now if I were to do an academy, I’d give them a therapist. Once a week.”
See ROSÉ for The Cut below:
Shot Tower Capital, a boutique investment brand specializing in the sale of music and entertainment assets, is enhancing its offerings through the launch of RedBrick Advisors, a specialized valuation firm catering to those industries. Sachin Saggar Courtesy Photo As part of that new endeavor, Shot Tower is partnering with RedBrick co-founder Sachin Saggar, a research […]
Fashion-forward singer Tyla dropped into the Jennifer Hudson Show on Tuesday (Feb. 18) to give a sneak peek at her new British Vogue cover and tease her anticipated look at the upcoming Met Gala. She also talked about performing at last year’s Victoria’s Secret fashion show and performing with her musical mirror, Sabrina Carpenter.
“She’s literally like me, like we don’t take things too serious, so it was a lot of laughing,” Tyla said of appearing on Carpenter’s first-ever holiday special in December, during which the two women collaborated on a rendition of “This Christmas.”
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“It was really fun doing that and being… because I haven’t done a duet like that with another artist,” Tyla said. “Yeah, it was cute.” Now that she’s got Carpenter ticked off her bucket list, Hudson asked if there is anyone else Tyla dreams of teaming up with. “Like a dream song, just passion, like not serious, I would want to do something with… an older artist,” she said. “Like Brian McKnight… or a Babyface, something like old R&B.”
Tyla also responded to silly internet rumors that she “stole” some wings at the VS runway special, telling Hudson that at one point someone told her she could go into the “wing room” and “pick any wing” she wanted. “So I was having the time of my life, trying on all the wings,” Tyla laughed, as the image of the white feather version she chose flashed on the screen behind her; at the time, she captioned a stunning pic from the special with the words, “Earned my wings” in the post that got a heart emoji from Carpenter.
“‘That’s mine!’” she remembered thinking when she saw them at the show where she walked alongside Angels Gigi Hadid, Tyra Banks and Adriana Lima, at the event that also featured a performance from BLACKPINK’s LISA.
And, not that she’s looking to take all the gigs, but asked if she’s interested in moving into acting, Tyla said she’d love to “do something more creative” with a fellow envelope-pushing musician, such as Frank Ocean, Childish Gambino or Tyler, the Creator. “Something more creative… but dream role? I want to be a princess,” she said with a smile. “Like an African princess. I think that would be cute.”
After making the scene at her first Met Gala last year, last week it was announced that Tyla will be part of the 2025 Met Gala Host Committee team alongside André 3000, Simone Biles, Dapper Dan, Doechii, Ayo Edebiri, Regina King, Spike Lee, Janelle Monae and Sha’Carri Richardson, among others. Though she’s not sure what her outfit will be yet, Tyla promised that it “will be hot… you know that,” without revealing any additional details.
In her new British Vogue cover, the 23-year-old South African native charted her quick rise to fame and gave a hint of what musical direction she is headed in after the worldwide breakthrough of “Water,” the debut single from her self-titled first album that topped out at No. 7 on the Billboard Hot 100.
“I really feel like I have changed so much since ‘Water’ and my debut album. I have grown into a different version of myself. A little more spicy, a little more bold. I’m excited to just put that into the music,” she told the magazine. And while her global acclaim could easily lead to product extensions into a beauty or booze line like other pop stars, Tyla said she’s focused on her main gig.
“Music is my first love,” she said, while keeping her options open. “Maybe one day I’ll want to dabble in acting, beauty, creative directing, fashion… I really have a love for it all and I know I can do it all.”
Tyla will appear alongside aespa, Erykah Badu, GloRilla, Angela Aguilar, Gracie Abrams, Jennie, Megan Moroney, Meghan Trainor and Muni Long at March 29th’s 2025 Billboard Women in Music event.
Check out Tyla on the Jennifer Hudson Show below.
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Drake made a statement at his recent concert that had the whole crowd buzzing. While performing “Rich Flex,” the 6 God threw a DeMar DeRozan Raptors jersey into the stands, sending a loud message that his friendship with the NBA star was officially over. The tension between them had been building for a while, especially after DeRozan seemed to side with Kendrick Lamar in the middle of the beef between the two rappers.
DeRozan even joined Kendrick on stage during his pop-up concert, vibing to K Dot’s diss track “Not Like Us,” which was aimed directly at Drake. That move had fans questioning where DeRozan’s loyalty really lay. Things didn’t stop there. LeBron James, who’s usually been in Drake’s corner, was caught in warm-ups rapping along to Kendrick’s diss track word-for-word, and that only added more fuel to the fire.
Drake isn’t the type to let things slide, and he made it clear at his concert that he doesn’t rock with people who try to play both sides. So, when he tossed that DeRozan jersey, it wasn’t just for show—it was the end of that friendship. Drizzy doesn’t forget when people switch up, and the jersey toss was his way of letting DeRozan know it’s over. If LeBron keeps singing Kendrick’s diss, don’t be surprised if he gets the same treatment. Drake’s not about to let anyone take shots and play both sides—loyalty’s everything to the sensitive king.
Nashville-based label Big Machine Label Group, a subsidiary of HYBE America, has appointed Jodi Dawes to the role of vice president of publicity and communications, to oversee the label group’s public relations department and lead strategy across BMLG’s imprints Big Machine Records, The Valory Music Co. and Nashville Harbor Records & Entertainment. Dawes reports directly […]