Author: djfrosty
Page: 174
Kid Rock showed some respect for Kendrick Lamar‘s Super Bowl Halftime Show performance in an appearance on Real Time With Bill Maher. He also said he doesn’t think it would’ve happened without the NFL’s DEI initiatives.
“To put it nicely, it wasn’t my cup of tea, but I got to respect it,” he told Maher on the Valentine’s Day episode of Real Time. “And here’s why. You know, I grew up loving, emulating hip-hop, all things hip-hop — break dancing, deejaying, graffiti, rapping, and so I understand the culture a little bit more than most. And when I say most, of course, I mean white people.”
Kid Rock continued, “So when you’re watching it, after, there’s a lot of things going through your head. You know, everyone’s like, ‘That sucked,’ this, that and the other. I’m like, man, this kid pretty much came out figuratively with both middle fingers in the air, doing what he does for the people who love what he does, unapologetically. And I don’t think he gives a frog’s fat a– what anyone thinks about it.”
“So I go, huh, it’s pretty much how I built my whole career. I gotta respect it,” said Kid Rock, who recently performed in support of Donald Trump’s inauguration and said the president is “one of the greatest men to ever walk the Earth” and “screams ‘American Badass,’ just by the way he walks,” and professed his love for Trump again during his conversation with Maher on Friday.
Kid Rock then attempted to theorize how Lamar — a frequent Billboard chart topper and 22-time Grammy Award winner, and the top Grammy winner this year (with five wins, including record and song of the year) — got invited to headline the Super Bowl Halftime Show, which made history as the most-watched Halftime Show of all time, with 133.5 million viewers.
“How did he get there?” he wondered out loud. “I’ve heard nobody answer this question. How did he get that gig? Jay-Z. What happened there? I think Jay-Z and Kendrick Lamar should both send Colin Kaepernick a Bundt cake and a six-pack of beer and a ‘thank you’ note with a bunch of money in it because without him kneeling and getting everyone’s panties in a bunch over the anthem, self-included, I don’t think that happens.”
Maher started to move the conversation along at that point, but Kid Rock kept going.
“And by the way, one more point,” Kid Rock said. “This was the epitome of DEI blowing up. Because the NFL was all this DEI, end racism, all this stuff. They got Jay-Z in there booking this. Kendrick Lamar goes out there and basically turns DEI into an IED. It’s all Black people, or all people of color, speaking to his crowd, in the hood, Black people. It was like the most exclusive thing ever and I’m like, ‘F— yeah, that’s awesome.’ I’m laughing my a– off.”
Later in Friday’s interview, when asked his about thoughts on democrats, Kid Rock reminded Maher he’d also once performed (but didn’t vote) for Barack Obama, and told him, “Half my band’s liberal, or gay, or Black, or this. I have one of the most diverse bands out there. Not because of this DEI s—. Just because they’re the best at what they do. We all love each other and get along.”
As the conversation shifted over to Kid Rock’s upcoming tour dates, he spoke of the need for an upheaval in the concert ticket business. The TICKET Act, a ticketing reform law meant to clean up the concert industry, was recently revived in the U.S. Senate after nearly becoming law in 2024. The TICKET Act would introduce mandatory all-in pricing, require refunds for canceled events and ban speculative ticket sales.
“In the last however long, it’s complete horse s—,” Kid Rock said of what it’s currently like to purchase a concert ticket, adding that “the customers get screwed.”
“What we have to really look at right now is what’s going on in some of these European markets, like France. They basically put a price cap on reselling a ticket of like 10 or 15%,” he suggested.
In another clip from the show, which aired during the “Overtime” segment and can be watched below, Kid Rock confirmed that he’s got a gospel album in the works.
“Early beginnings now,” he told Maher. “Doing a gospel album with my old friend Rick Rubin.”
Rubin previously produced Kid Rock’s 2010 album Born Free, which reached No. 5 on the Billboard 200 albums chart.
HipHopWired Featured Video
CRT FRSH, Hip-Hop Wired’s playlist where we attempt to showcase music we believe is “Certified Fresh,” is back again! With just our second update of the year, we’ve had a lot of catching up to do.
Disclaimer:
The CRT FRSH playlist is a labor of love. We don’t take payments nor do we do favors. We only add joints to our playlist that fit the theme and vision we’re going for and don’t seek to waste the listener’s time. Further, we don’t stick to one lane of Hip-Hop. We believe that all aspects of the music should get some light, whether it’s young lions in the trenches or those hoping for that one shot to blow up to grizzled veterans puffing out their chests with lots more to say.
I want to explain how I approach curating the CRT FRSH playlist. Most importantly, I don’t segregate my Hip-Hop. Every form of music from the main cultural tree deserves a listen and a look. When I construct the playlist, I want to include all regions across the States and, when applicable, across the globe. I also want to entertain every fan of Hip-Hop, not just those who enjoy one segment of it. Now that we’ve got that out of the way, let’s get to it. — D.L. Chandler
Happy Valentine’s Day, Hip-Hop Wired Nation! We’re glad to be back to curating what’s about to be your new favorite Hip-Hop music playlist! We haven’t kept on top of the playlist so we’ll be digging into some records released in the last year along with some new offerings.
We open the playlist with the buzzing “GIMME A HUG” from Drake and PARTYNEXTDOOR’s $$$4U ($ome $exy $ongs 4 U) album. It looks like Drizzy is completely done with the 20-v-1 and back to the music. We follow that with “Gacy” from Atlanta’s Big Cheeko and his excellent Coulrophia album. Lil Baby’s WHAM album got the deluxe treatment and “Running This Sh*t” is one of the four bonus tracks. Next up is “Munyon Canon” from Larry June, 2 Chainz, and the Alchemist’s collaborative project, Life Is Beautiful.
Gunna, who may have taken some shots in the aforementioned Lil Baby track, shows up with the hypnotic “GOT DAMN” and the dynamic duo of Issa Gold and AKTHESAVIOR, together as The Underachievers, delivers the atmospheric “Have Nots” and have more heat in the tuck.
Pardison Fontaine links with Cardi B for the strip club-ready “Toot It Up,” and MIKE, perhaps the most gifted rapper and producer under 30, gets into the mix with “What U Bouta Do?/A Star was born” from his potent Showbiz! album.
Salute to Offset, Sideshow, El Costeau, Central Cee, 21 Savage, Jadasea, Niontay, Teddy Swims, Coco Jones, GloRilla, Zelooperz, Real Bad Man, Doechii, jalenn., GELO, Lil Wayne, Black Milk, Fat Ray, NLE Choppa, Spectacular Diagnostics, Conway The Machine, Chris Crack, and Declaime.
Salute to all the creative minds that helped make this edition of CRT FRSH what it is, We’ll be back in the swing in two weeks. For now, enjoy the music.
—
Photo: Getty
Drake and PartyNextDoor’s new album has already setting records on Apple Music following its Valentine’s Day release.
After dropping on Friday (Feb. 14), the duo’s years-in-the-making project, $ome $exy $ongs 4 U, has broken the record for the biggest R&B/soul album in Apple Music’s history by first-day streams worldwide.
Billboard has reached out to Apple Music for more details.
$ome $exy $ongs 4 U marks Drake’s first full album since 2023’s For All the Dogs, which spent two weeks at No. 1 on the Billboard 200. It’s also his first major project since his explosive rap feud with Kendrick Lamar, which recently saw K. Dot take aim at the Toronto superstar during the Super Bowl Halftime Show on Feb. 9, performing his Billboard Hot 100-topping diss track “Not Like Us” in front of more than 100 million viewers.’
Trending on Billboard
The 21-track album, with a 74-minute runtime, follows PartyNextDoor’s P4, released in 2024.
Earlier in the week, Drake brought out PND during a concert in Melbourne, where the OVO signee surprised the Australian crowd on Drake’s Anita Max Wynn Tour.
“I got an album coming out on Feb. 14 with my brother PartyNextDoor,” Drake told the crowd. “It’s called $ome $exy $ongs 4 U, but it’s some turned-up songs for you on there, too, and there’s some personal feelings on there for you. Hopefully, whoever you’re with on Valentine’s Day, hopefully y’all can share that experience together.”
Drake also revealed the cover art for $$$4U, which features both artists rocking fur coats in front of the Marilyn Monroe Towers in Canada.
The duo has long demonstrated their strong chemistry on tracks like “Come and See Me,” “Recognize,” “Members Only,” “Loyal,” “Preach, “Since Way Back,” and others.
Sheryl Crow is bidding farewell to her Tesla. The Grammy-winning singer, 63, announced on Instagram Friday (Feb. 14) that she’s selling her Tesla and donating the proceeds to NPR. Her decision comes in response to Tesla CEO Elon Musk’s push for government efficiency through his unofficial Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), which aims to cut […]
Bad Bunny will soon be soothing babies to sleep with Rockabye Baby!’s upcoming album release, Lullaby Renditions of Bad Bunny. The set, featuring instrumental lullaby versions of 14 Bad Bunny songs, is due out on Friday, Feb. 21. Some of Bad Bunny’s biggest hits are on the track list, including the Hot 100 No. 1 […]
Adele was clearly enjoying herself during NBC’s SNL50: The Homecoming Concert.
On Saturday (Feb. 15), the 36-year-old British superstar shared a video of herself joyfully singing and dancing along to Ms. Lauryn Hill and Wyclef Jean performing the Fugees classic “Killing Me Softly.”
“Wow @nbcsnl just wow. Incredible! I can’t believe what I’m watching,” Adele captioned an Instagram Stories clip, clearly blown away by the duo’s performance.
In the short video, the “Easy on Me” hitmaker, dressed in cozy clothes, stands in front of a fireplace with her arms raised, swaying to the music as she sings along to the performance on her TV screen.
Trending on Billboard
The SNL50 concert, which streamed live to viewers through Peacock on Friday from New York City’s Radio City Music Hall, featured Hill and Jean performing a medley of hits, including “Lost Ones” and “911.” The three-hour event, hosted by former SNL cast member Jimmy Fallon, also featured performances by Cher, Lady Gaga, Bad Bunny, Miley Cyrus and many others. Check out the best moments from the SNL50 concert here.
In September 2018, Adele penned an emotional tribute to Hill after attending the Fugees member’s concert at the Hollywood Bowl in Los Angeles. The show was part of a tour celebrating the 20th anniversary of Hill’s debut solo album, The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill.
“I saw Lauryn Hill in 1999 at Brixton Academy when I was 10 years old. Tonight I saw her play at the Hollywood Bowl. I’ve just turned 30! What a woman what a record, by far Miseducation is my favorite record of all time,” Adele wrote on Instagram at the time.
She continued, “Such an honest representation of love and life, I feel I can relate too but also I know there’s elements and levels I never will be able to. Ms. Lauryn Hill was on form in every way possible. Thank you for the record of a lifetime, thank you for your wisdom! Thank you for existing. Happy 20th.”
Adele wrapped up her two-year Las Vegas residency in November 2024. After her 100-show Weekends With Adele extravaganza at Caesars Palace’s Colosseum, she hinted at taking a “big break” from music.
The singer, who has not gone on a world tour since her 2016-2017 run in support of her 25 album, is known for taking extended breaks between albums and tours. These gaps have grown longer over time, from three years between her debut album 19 (2008) and 21 (2011), to four years until 25 (2015), and six years between 25 and 30 (2021).
From career milestones to new music releases to major announcements and those little important moments, Billboard editors highlight uplifting moments in Latin music. Here’s what happened in the Latin music world this week.
Explore
See latest videos, charts and news
See latest videos, charts and news
Gente De Zona and Guaynaa Perform at We Love Foundation
The We Love Foundation celebrated its 12th annual gala, bringing together personalities across the world of entertainment; from fashion to music. The gala took place Feb. 12 at the Rubell Museum in Miami.
Puerto Rican hitmaker Guaynaa and Cuban duo Gente de Zona performed at the event. In addition, the foundation presented its Spirit Award to Venezuelan comedian George Harris, who was part of the 2024 Billboard Latin Music Week.
Trending on Billboard
Funds raised during the gala will go towards humanitarian initiatives, including support for Venezuela, Mission:Brain in Mexico, the Guiribitey Foundation in the Dominican Republic and the Agrolibano Foundation in Honduras, according to a press release. “These organizations work tirelessly to improve the quality of life of vulnerable communities by providing access to health, education and welfare.”
Shakespeare, Spiced Up: Amor with No B.S.
Amor with No B.S., an off-Broadway production staged at The Flea Theater in Manhattan on Valentine’s week (Feb. 11), showcased a Gen-Z Latin cast’s reinterpretation of Shakespeare’s timeless works. This ambitious rendition, featuring Diego Echeverria, Sofía Vilches, Eli Vazquez, and Bralmarys Batista, highlighted modern love and identity issues, bringing humor and heart to classic pieces such as Romeo and Juliet, Twelfth Night, and Hamlet. A standout moment featured Vilches masterfully delivering Bad Bunny’s hit “Tití Me Preguntó” into Shakespearean prose, demonstrating the connection between historic themes and the current experiences of young Latin audiences.
Through its 45-minute runtime, Amor with No B.S. fused traditional drama with modern cultural nuances under the stewardship of producer Roberto Sneider, director Estefanía Fadul, and playwright Matt Barber, with a backing from Chispa, the Latin-centric dating app. “Reimagining Shakespeare from a Latine perspective isn’t merely about modernizing a classic — it’s a testament to how young Latino singles can own their cultural identities, be proud of their roots, and still push the boundaries of love,” Julia Estacolchic, head of brand and marketing at Chispa, said in a press release. “Our Amor with No B.S. campaign champions the idea that real love flourishes when you cast off stereotypes and embrace who you truly are.”
Amor with No B.S. cast (left to right: Eli Vazquez, Sofía Vilches, Bralmarys Batista, Diego Echeverria)
Courtesy of Arxna
Carlos Vives Celebrates His Mom
Carlos Vives celebrated his mom’s 90th birthday with a big hoorah, accompanied by mariachi and all. The Colombian singer-songwriter shared with his more than eight million followers on Instagram photos and videos of the birthday party, expressing his love for his mother.
“We celebrate the 90th birthday of my mom, the woman who has taught me to love my land so much and to whom I owe my life,” the “Fruta Fresca” singer wrote on an Instagram post. “Love you mommy, you deserve all the love and all the most beautiful songs in the world.”
Rosalía Joins Euphoria
Spanish hitmaker Rosalía will join the cast of HBO’s hit series Euphoria for its third season, set to premiere in 2026. The news of her casting was announced on Friday (Feb. 14).
“If there’s anything that excites me as much as creating a good melody or writing a great lyric, it’s becoming a better performer every day,” Rosalía said in a statement shared on Instagram. “Euphoria has been my favorite series over the last few years and I couldn’t be happier and more grateful to be acting alongside all of these incredibly talented people that I admire so much and contributing my ‘granito de arena’ to bring Sam [Levinson’s] vision to reality to make magic. I can’t wait to share what we’re doing!!! Besitos, Rosi.”
Additional reporting by Isabela Raygoza.
Far from comin’ to ya on a dusty road, NBC’s SNL50: The Homecoming Concert streamed live to viewers via Peacock from New York City’s famed Radio City Music Hall on Friday (Feb. 14), with the celebration honoring the long-running sketch comedy show and its rich musical history the moment it kicked off. Host Jimmy Fallon […]
It’s about damn time for some new Lizzo music! The superstar went live on Twitch on Friday (Feb. 14), and after navigating some technical difficulties with her muted microphone, she gave her fans a Valentine’s Day gift with a new teaser. Explore Explore See latest videos, charts and news See latest videos, charts and news […]
Former Eagles guitarist, Don Felder, is recovering after he was abruptly rushed offstage after a medical emergency during a Rock Legends Cruise performance. In a video shared by an attendee and posted by TMZ, the musician is seen introducing the Eagles classic, “Tequila Sunrise,” sharing the inspiration behind the song before he began strumming his […]