Author: djfrosty
Page: 171
Following the 2025 Super Bowl halftime show (Feb. 9), headliner Kendrick Lamar sees his GNX album return to No. 1 on the Billboard 200 for a second nonconsecutive week (rising 4-1 on the Feb. 22-dated chart), while his special guest SZA climbs 3-2 with her former leader SOS. With Lamar and SZA at Nos. 1 […]
Kendrick Lamar’s Super Bowl halftime show (Feb. 9) sparked big gains for the rapper’s catalog of albums, as three of his releases dot the top 10 of the Billboard 200 chart dated Feb. 22. GNX returns to No. 1 (rising 4-1) for a second nonconsecutive week (it debuted atop the list in December), 2017’s chart-topping DAMN. jumps 29-9 and 2012’s good kid, m.A.A.d city vaults 27-10.
Explore
Explore
See latest videos, charts and news
See latest videos, charts and news
It’s the first time in the nearly 69-year history of the chart that a rap act has placed at least three albums concurrently in the top 10. The Billboard 200 began publishing on a regular, weekly basis in March 1956.
Trending on Billboard
The latest Billboard 200 chart reflects activity generated in the U.S. in the tracking week Feb. 7-13. The Feb. 22-dated Billboard 200 will be posted in full on Billboard‘s website on Feb. 19, one day later than usual, owed to the Presidents’ Day holiday in the U.S. on Feb. 17.
Before Lamar, the last act, overall, with at least three albums in the top 10 was Taylor Swift on the Dec. 9, 2023, chart, when she had five in the region.
Before Lamar, the last male artist — or anyone aside from Swift — to have at least three albums in the top 10 at the same time was Prince, following his death, in 2016. That year, on the May 14 chart, he logged five titles in the region; and on the May 7 chart, he had three in the top 10. Prince died on April 21, 2016.
Lamar is the first living male artist to have at least three albums concurrently in the top 10 since Herb Alpert on the Dec. 24, 1966-dated chart, when he, leading the Tijuana Brass, had three titles in the top 10.
Lamar’s GNX returns to No. 1, rising 4-1, for its second week on top. The album was also released on physical formats for the first time (on Feb. 7), helping spark Lamar’s best sales week since 2017. It was previously only available to stream, and to purchase as a digital download album. GNX debuted at No. 1 on the Dec. 7, 2024-dated chart.
Before Lamar, the last time a Super Bowl halftime performer was No. 1 on the Billboard 200 in the wake of their halftime performance was Justin Timberlake in 2018, when his Man of the Woods album debuted atop the chart dated Feb. 17. The set was released on Feb. 2, 2018 — two days before he headlined Super Bowl LII on Feb. 4 in Minneapolis.
There’s more Lamar action on the latest Billboard 200 outside the top 10, as his former leader To Pimp a Butterfly, released in 2015, jumps 167-54 and the chart-topping Mr. Morale & The Big Steppers, from 2022, vaults 185-75. Plus, the Lamar-curated Black Panther soundtrack, released in 2018, reenters at No. 42. The former No. 1 album includes a Lamar collaboration with SZA, “All the Stars,” which the pair performed during the halftime show.
Speaking of SZA, her own former No. 1 SOS rises 3-2 on the Billboard 200. This week marks the first time two performers from the year’s Super Bowl halftime show have been Nos. 1 and 2 in the wake of the big game.
Post Malone has announced that his Big Ass Tour will head to the United Kingdom later this summer as part of a new European leg of shows.
The Texas-raised star will perform at London’s Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Sep. 7, his largest-ever show in the U.K.
The Big A– Tour kicks off in North America on Apr. 29 at Salt Lake City’s Rice-Eccles Stadium, before heading through major stadiums in Dallas, New York, Chicago, Philadelphia, Miami and concluding at San Francisco’s Oracle Park on July 1. In April he’ll headline California’s Coachella Festival for the first time alongside Lady Gaga and Green Day.
Posty’s European tour dates will kick off in Cluj-Napoca, Romania, at Untold Festival on Aug. 8, the first of many festival appearances scattered among his own headline shows. There’ll also be shows in Berlin, Paris, Barcelona and Milan, alongside his appearance in London.
Explore
See latest videos, charts and news
See latest videos, charts and news
Tickets for the tour and the London show go on sale at 12 p.m. (GMT) from Live Nation’s website. Support throughout the tour will come from Jelly Roll and Sierra Farrell, though Jelly Roll will not appear at his London show. See the full dates below.
Trending on Billboard
F-1 Trillion, his sixth studio LP, hit No. 1 on the Billboard 200 upon release in August 2024 and on the U.K. Albums Chart. Lead single “I Had Some Help” earned six non-consecutive weeks at the summit of the Hot 100, and the album was nominated for best country album at the 2025 Grammys.
Post Malone last performed in the U.K. in 2023 during an arena tour with stops in London, Manchester, Birmingham and Glasgow. He also headlined Reading & Leeds Festivals in 2019 and 2021.
Post Malone Big Ass World Tour 2025 dates:
Aug. 8: Cluj-Napoca, Romania (Untold Festival)Aug. 10: Budapest, Hungary (Sziget Festival)Aug. 12: Prague, Czech Republic (Airport Letnany)Aug. 13: St. Pölten, Austria (Frequency Festival)Aug. 15: Poznań, Poland (Bittersweet Festival)Aug. 16: Bratislava, Slovakia (Lovestream Festival)Aug. 18: Berlin (Parkbühne Wuhlheide)Aug. 21: Kaunas, Lithuania (Darius and Girenas Stadium)Aug. 23: Horsens, Denmark (Horsens & Friends at Nordstern Arena)Aug. 27: Milan, Italy (IDays Milano)Aug. 29: Zürich, Switzerland (Zürich Openair)Aug. 30: Munich (Superbloom)Sep. 3: Paris (Paris La Défense Arena)Sep. 5: Hanover, Germany (Heinz von Heiden Arena)Sep. 7: London (Tottenham Hotspur Stadium)Sep. 9: Arnhem, Netherlands (GelreDome)Sep. 12: Barcelona (Estadi Olímpic Lluís Companys)Sep. 14: Lisbon, Portugal (Estadio do Restelo)
Fuerza Regida is preparing to debut in Latin America with their Esto No Es Un Tour, Billboard Español can exclusively announce. The seven-date tour begins March 28 and includes stops in arenas and stadiums in Guatemala, El Salvador, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Puerto Rico and Colombia. In Colombia, the group will perform in two cities, Bogota […]
Former Vice President Kamala Harris will make her first major appearance since leaving office on Jan. 20 to accept the Chairman’s Award during the 56th NAACP Image Awards on Saturday, Feb. 22. The show will air live from the Pasadena Civic Auditorium in Pasadena, Calif., at 8 p.m. ET/PT on BET and CBS. This year, the broadcast will be extended 30 minutes to 2.5 hours.
The Chairman’s Award honors individuals who “excel in public service and leverage their unique platforms to ignite and drive meaningful change.” Past honorees include then-Sen. Barack Obama (2005), former VP Al Gore in tandem with Kenyan social, environmental and political activist Wangari Waathati, Commerce Secretary Ron Brown, U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder, the late Rep. John Lewis, Rev. James Lawson, Rep. Bennie G. Thompson, Rep. Maxine Waters and former Surgeon General Regina Benjamin.
Previously announced special award recipients at this year’s NAACP Image Awards are comedian Dave Chappelle (President’s Award) and The Wayans Family (NAACP Image Awards Hall of Fame).
Trending on Billboard
Harris made history as the first woman, Black person and South Asian person to become vice president. She previously served as U.S. Senator and California Attorney General. In 2024, she became the first Black and South Asian woman nominated for president by a major party, receiving more than 75 million votes in what BET reminds us was “the shortest modern general election campaign.” President Biden was fully expected to be the Democratic nominee until a shaky debate performance on June 27 caused many, even in his own party, to call for a new nominee. Biden withdrew on July 21. Harris was voted the party’s nominee by delegates on Aug. 5, just three months before Election Day.
“Vice President Kamala Harris is more than a leader – she is a force of change, driven by an unwavering passion to shape a brighter, more equitable future,” Leon W. Russell, chair, NAACP national board of directors said in a statement. “… Her legacy is built on courage, compassion, and a profound commitment to uplifting those who need it most. Her tireless advocacy for the most vulnerable among us has made her a beacon of hope and progress.”
“Vice President Harris is deeply deserving of the NAACP Chairman’s awards for both her historic accomplishments and her incredible legacy of service to America and our community,” added Scott Mills, president and CEO of BET Media Group. “… Her unwavering commitment to justice, equity and progress has inspired millions, and her journey is a powerful testament to that which can be achieved through resilience, strength and brilliance.
“Vice President Harris embodies the power, grace and unyielding courage that Black women have long brought to the heart of the United States,” said Derrick Johnson, NAACP President and CEO. “With bold determination, Vice President Harris fights for justice, amplifies the voices of the marginalized and stands as a beacon of hope. She embodies the resilience and brilliance of Black women, uplifting their legacy as the driving force behind change in this country. VP Harris reminds us all that when Black women lead, the entire nation rises.”
Cynthia Erivo, Keke Palmer, Kendrick Lamar, Kevin Hart and Shannon Sharpe are competing for entertainer of the year at this year’s NAACP Image Awards. GloRilla received the most nominations in the music/recording categories, with six, followed by Doechii, Lamar and Usher, with four nods each. RCA Records received 11 nominations, the most among record labels.
NAACP will recognize winners in non-televised categories virtually on Tuesday, Feb. 18, and Wednesday, Feb. 19, on its YouTube channel and at the 56th NAACP Image Awards Creative Honors Friday, Feb. 21.
D’Angelo (alongside The Roots), Meek Mill and Lenny Kravitz will headline the 2025 Roots Picnic, marking the festival’s 17th iteration.
Curated by Grammy-winning hip-hop group The Roots and produced in collaboration with Live Nation Urban, Roots Picnic will return to The Mann in Fairmount Park in Philadelphia, Penn. on Saturday, May 31, and Sunday, June 1, 2025. Presale tickets will be available starting Tuesday, Feb. 18, at 10 a.m. ET through Thursday, February 20, at 10 p.m. ET. General on-sale begins Friday, Feb. 21, at 10 a.m. ET. All tickets will be available at the official Roots Picinic website.
Notably, this year marks Philly MC Meek Mill’s first appearance at Roots Picnic. He was slated to headline the 2020 show before the COVID-19 pandemic forced organizers to pivot to a virtual production. D’Angelo last appeared at the festival in 2016 during its first-ever New York edition. Rock god Lenny Kravitz is fresh off the release of Blue Electric Light, his funky and fearless twelfth studio album.
This year, the two-day festival will also celebrate several landmark anniversaries. Jeezy will celebrate 20 years of his Let’s Get It: Thug Motivation 101 LP, which topped both Rap Albums and R&B/Hip-Hop Albums back in 2005, with a special set. Similarly, Musiq Soulchild will play a set commemorating the 25-year anniversary of his timeless debut studio album Aijuswanaseing. Never ones to miss the party, The Roots will play a set built around the 30-year anniversary of their towering sophomore album, Do You Want More?!!!??!
Trending on Billboard
In addition, J. Period’s Live Mixtape series will return with special guests Black Thought, Pusha T and 2 Chainz, while Adam Blackstone and Jagged Edge will join forces for a special collaborative set. House music legends Crystal Waters and Cece Peniston will appear at Rich Medina’s Black House set, and CeeLo Green will play Baller Alert’s go-go stage.
Other acts slated to hit the stage include: GloRilla, Miguel, Tems, Latto, Kaytranada, Elmiene, Lay Bankz, Funk Flex, Diamond Kuts and Laila!
Outside of performances, Roots Picnic is also introducing a new day party lineup this year. Attendees can keep the festivities going at Trap Karaoke, Chill Vibes featuring DJ Active, Doo-Wop …That R&B Party, Dear Summer Festival, Kirk Franklin’s Sunday School w/ DJ Mal-Ski, Philly Black Pride, and more.
Last year, Roots Picnic featured a collection of sets that celebrated the breadth of Black music history. André 3000 performed his Grammy-nominated alternative jazz album New Blue Sun, Shaboozey brought “A Bar Song” and the Black country renaissance to Philly and Sexyy Red made a triumphant Roots Picnic debut after her inclusion on the lineup was initially met with some ire and disdain. The 2024 Roots Picnic headliners included Lil Wayne, André 3000, Nas and Jill Scott.
See the full lineup below.
Paul McCartney made a grand return to Saturday Night Live for its SNL50: The Anniversary Special, delivering a stirring performance of the Abbey Road medley, “Golden Slumbers” / “Carry That Weight” / “The End.”
Explore
Explore
See latest videos, charts and news
See latest videos, charts and news
The former Beatle, who was a musical guest on the show in 1980, 1993, 2010 and 2012 and made cameos in 2006, 2013 and 2015, also previously appeared on SNL’s 40th anniversary special. The legendary rocker again took the stage at Studio 8H on Sunday night (Feb. 16), closing out the three-hour event with a historic nod to one of the most celebrated albums in rock history.
Trending on Billboard
McCartney’s appearance followed a star-studded night of musical performances, including Miley Cyrus and Brittany Howard’s cover of “Nothing Compares 2 U,” and a surprise duet from Paul Simon and Sabrina Carpenter.
Lil Wayne performed with The Roots and DJ T. Lewis for his performance, which opened with the 2018 single “Uproar,” and saw Weezy run through other tunes from his Tha Carter series of albums, including his lone Billboard Hot 100 chart-topper as a solo artist “Lollipop”, followed by “6 Foot 7 Foot” and “Mrs. Officer”. The night also featured an unexpected SNL moment when Nirvana joined Post Malone for a performance of “Smells Like Teen Spirit”.
The 50th anniversary of SNL also brings about one of rock’s most legendary what-ifs: the time McCartney and John Lennon nearly reunited on the show.
In 1976, SNL creator Lorne Michaels famously offered The Beatles $3,000 to reunite during the show’s first season. Lennon later recalled in a Playboy interview that he and McCartney were watching the show together that night at Lennon’s apartment in The Dakota and briefly considered making a surprise appearance. “We nearly got into a cab, but we were actually too tired,” Lennon admitted. “We went, ‘Ha-ha, wouldn’t it be funny if we went down?’ But we didn’t.”
Though that reunion never happened, McCartney’s SNL history remains rich. Beyond his musical performances, he’s been a frequent comedic guest, appearing in sketches over the years—including a memorable bit with Chris Farley in which the late comedian nervously interviewed him on The Chris Farley Show.
McCartney’s latest appearance at SNL 50 comes as he continues to celebrate The Beatles’ lasting legacy. In 2023, The Beatles scored their first No. 1 debut on the Billboard Hot 100 with “Now and Then,” a long-lost track featuring Lennon’s vocals. The song also topped Billboard’s Rock & Alternative Airplay chart and became the band’s 35th Hot 100 top 10 hit.
SNL50: The Anniversary Special aired on Sunday, Feb. 16 on NBC and will be available to stream on Peacock.
Pantera’s latest stop on their European tour came with a legendary surprise when the metal heavyweights were joined on stage by none other than Iron Maiden’s Bruce Dickinson for a rendition of their 1992 classic “Walk.”
Explore
See latest videos, charts and news
See latest videos, charts and news
The metal legends took over Adidas Arena in Paris on Feb. 15, treating fans to a career-spanning set. Before launching into “Walk,” frontman Phil Anselmo addressed the crowd, noting that Dickinson was in attendance. Midway through the track, the Iron Maiden vocalist stormed the stage, mic in hand, to sing the song’s iconic chorus alongside Anselmo. The Pantera frontman even bowed in front of Dickinson in a moment of mutual metal respect.
Fan-shot footage of the moment quickly made waves online, with fans praising the crossover between two of metal’s most influential ac
Trending on Billboard
The surprise guest appearance came just days before Pantera kicks off their first U.K. and Ireland headlining tour in 20 years, with shows in Glasgow (Feb. 18), Leeds (Feb. 19), Dublin (Feb. 21), Birmingham (Feb. 23), and London (Feb. 25). The band will also return to the U.K. this July, supporting Black Sabbath at their final reunion show alongside Metallica, Slayer, Gojira, and Mastodon.
Pantera’s reunion tour, featuring core members Anselmo and bassist Rex Brown alongside Zakk Wylde and Charlie Benante filling in for the late Dimebag Darrell and Vinnie Paul, has been a point of both celebration and controversy. While the tour has been met with strong demand, the band faced backlash in 2023 over Anselmo’s past actions, leading to festival cancellations in Germany and Austria.
Despite the controversy, Pantera has continued to sell out major venues across the globe, and Dickinson’s unexpected cameo only added to the excitement surrounding their current run.
Beyond their dominance on the live stage, Pantera’s legacy is solidified in the charts. The band made history in 1994 when Far Beyond Driven debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200, making it the first extreme metal album to ever claim the top spot. The record, fueled by tracks like “I’m Broken” and “5 Minutes Alone,” marked a turning point for metal’s mainstream acceptance.
Their follow-up albums continued their chart success, with The Great Southern Trendkill (No. 4, 1996) and Reinventing the Steel (No. 4, 2000) reinforcing their standing in heavy music. Meanwhile, their seminal 1992 release Vulgar Display of Power—featuring classics like “Walk” and “Mouth for War”—remains a defining album of the genre, certified double platinum by the RIAA.
Lil Wayne has joined the eclectic roster of musical guests to share a career-spanning singles medley on Sunday night’s (Feb. 16) SNL50: The Anniversary Special. Wayne was joined by The Roots and DJ T. Lewis for his performance, which opened with 2018 single Uproar, and saw Weezy run through other tunes from his Tha Carter […]
It was a Bay Area showcase at the NBA All-Star Game. DJ Cassidy’s Pass The Mic Live! delivered a tribute to the Bay with a West Coast-themed 2025 NBA All-Star Game Halftime Show on Sunday night (Feb. 16) inside San Francisco’s Chase Center. Explore See latest videos, charts and news See latest videos, charts and […]