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Welcome to Billboard Pro’s Trending Up newsletter, where we take a closer look at the songs, artists, curiosities and trends that have caught the music industry’s attention. Some have come out of nowhere, others have taken months to catch on, and all of them could become ubiquitous in the blink of a TikTok clip.
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This week: Kehlani eyes a big chart move thanks to a new pack of remixes, a surreal viral trend helps put a rising singer-songwriter on the streaming map, basketball’s greatest soundtrack makes a comeback and more.
Star-Studded ‘Folded’ Remix Pack Lifts Kehlani’s Current Hit
On this week’s Billboard Hot 100 (dated Nov. 1), Kehlani’s “Folded” ranks at No. 14, marking the highest peak of her career on the all-genre singles chart. Next week, thanks to her new Folded Homage EP, the Grammy-nominated R&B singer’s ascendant hit could slide into the top 10.
Featuring Brandy, Toni Braxton, Jojo, Mario, Tank and Ne-Yo, the Folded Homage EP finds six ‘90s and ‘00s R&B heavyweights reimagining Kehlani’s hit, which recently topped Rhythmic Airplay. According to early data provided by Luminate, “Folded” earned 5.9 million official on-demand U.S. streams from Oct. 17-20. In the equivalent four-day period of the tracking week following the remix EP’s release (Oct. 24-27), that number leapt 20% to over 7.2 million official streams. Notably, the new set of remixes also spurred a boost in digital sales for “Folded.” Two weekends ago, the track sold just over 900 digital downloads, and that number jumped nearly 60% to nearly 1,500 digital downloads following the release of the remix EP.
A frontrunner for best R&B song and performance at next year’s Grammys, “Folded” continues to impress as its run unfolds. – KYLE DENIS
Lucky ‘Group 7’ for Viral New Sophia James Trend
To promote her new single “So Unfair” while simultaneously testing which content the TikTok algorithm favors, Sophia James devised a simple plan: post seven videos sorting viewers into different groups, based on which one they saw first. As it turned out, the ever-mysterious algorithm loves the number 7, with videos 1-6 getting a handful of viewers apiece, whereas the seventh one was shown to millions.
With seemingly everyone and their mother pledging allegiance to Group 7 – including NFL teams like the Kansas City Chiefs and New England Patriots, fast-food chains Wendy’s and Jimmy John’s, and other brands such as Fenty Beauty, Oreo and Hellman’s Mayonnaise — James’ artist profile got a major boost. From the tracking week ending Oct. 16 to the following week ending Oct. 23, the singer-songwriter’s catalog experienced a 265.9% increase, jumping from around 44,000 official on-demand U.S. streams to nearly 162,000 according to Luminate.
The growth on “So Unfair” itself was even more astonishing, with the track’s stream count jumping up 1,013% from just under on-demand U.S. streams to 97,576 in that same time frame. That’s an increase of about 13,939 groups of 7. – HANNAH DAILEY
4 Non Blondes TikTok Trend Boosts Nicki Minaj’s “Beez in the Trap”
Between a recent interpolation courtesy of Cardi B and Lizzo’s “What’s Goin On” and still-trending mashup with Nicki Minaj and 2 Chainz’s “Beez in the Trap,” 4 Non Blondes’ undying “What’s Up?” has experienced a huge resurgence on streaming. Now, Nicki’s track is getting in on the fun.
For the period of Oct. 17-20, “Beez” logged over 608,000 official on-demand U.S. streams and sold over 160 digital downloads. For the equivalent four-day period the following week (Oct. 24-27), “Beez” spiked 55% to over 943,000 official on-demand U.S. streams, according to early data provided by Luminate. Of course, “Beez in the Trap” is one of the most memorable singles from 2012’s Pink Friday: Roman Reloaded. The 2 Chainz-assisted joint reached No. 48 on the Hot 100.
The 4 Non Blondes/Minaj mashup trend dates back to an Aug. 11 post by user @dj.auxlord. TikTok users quickly latched onto the mashup’s bizarre dichotomy and used the accompanying sound, which now soundtracks over 726,000 creates, to showcase everything from Halloween costumes to seemingly oppositional vibes. Most clips using the remix feature two friends standing back-to-back with one person singing the “What’s Up” hook while the other raps Nicki’s “Beez” hook.
Already parodied by Sabrina Carpenter and Marcello Hernandez for SNL, recent celebrities who have joined the trend include PinkPantheress, Ice Spice, Quen Blackwell, Jimmy Fallon, Malala Yousafzai, Khloé Kardashian, Kylie Jenner, Jennifer Lopez and 4 Non Blondes’ own Linda Perry. — KD
Long Live ‘Roundball Rock’: Basketball Classic Revived With ‘NBA on NBC’ Return
For the first time since 2002, the NBA returned to NBC last week. With NBCUniversal regaining NBA rights in 2024, starting with this current 2025-26 season, games aired both on the television broadcast network and on the Peacock streaming platform — giving longtime hoopheads a rush of nostalgia for the league’s ‘90s halcyon days airing on the channel. And of course, a large percentage of those good feelings were reserved for the iconic musical theme to the channel’s coverage: “Roundball Rock.”
The rousing instrumental, composed by new-age musician and longtime Entertainment Tonight co-host John Tesh, has long been beloved by basketball fans of all stripes — and was even sampled in the ‘00s on songs by star rappers Nelly and Joe Budden. With the return of both the league and its onetime home network, Tesh’s “Roundball Rock” saw an unsurprising surge on DSPs last week, racking up 37,000 official on-demand U.S. streams — a 417% gain from the prior week, according to Luminate. – ANDREW UNTERBERGER
Trending on Billboard Three-time Grammy winner Tim McGraw recently told an audience that he contemplated leaving his music career behind due to health issues, according to a video shared by Fox News. Explore See latest videos, charts and news During a concert in Highland, California on Saturday (Oct. 25), McGraw candidly discussed the health issues […]
Trending on Billboard Earlier today (Oct. 29), Billboard published the September Boxscore report, with Chris Brown repeating as the biggest touring act of the month. But while the biggest stars of rock, hip-hop and more packed stadiums, comedians were road warrior-ing their way to sold-out theaters and arenas. Here, we’re looking at the five biggest […]
Following the Oct. 18 death of longtime bassist Sam Rivers, Limp Bizkit’s catalog surged, as reflected on Billboard’s Nov. 1-dated charts, paced by its 1999 classic “Break Stuff,” which hits No. 1 on the Hot Hard Rock Songs survey.
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Over Oct. 18-24, “Break Stuff” earned 3.7 million official U.S. streams, a boost of 6%, according to Luminate. It’s part of a wider catalog-inclusive gain for the band’s music, which jumped 17% in official on-demand U.S. streams in that span.
Perennial streaming favorite “Break Stuff” was the most streamed song in the band’s catalog in the week following Rivers’ passing. From Limp Bizkit’s 1999 Billboard 200 No. 1 Significant Other, it reached No. 14 on the Alternative Airplay chart in April 2000.
The track also enters Hot Rock & Alternative Songs at No. 18. (Older songs are eligible to enter multimetric charts if ranking the top half and with a meaningful reason for their resurgences.)
“Break Stuff” is additionally No. 13 on Hard Rock Streaming Songs.
Below “Break Stuff,” Limp Bizkit’s “Rollin’” drew with 2.5 million streams Oct. 18-24, up 12%, while “My Way” earned 1.9 million, a boost of 15%. Both songs are from the group’s 2000 album Chocolate Starfish and the Hot Dog Flavored Water, also a No. 1 on the Billboard 200. The set returns to Top Hard Rock Albums at No. 22 with 6,000 equivalent album units earned, up 10%.
Meanwhile, the band’s current single, “Making Love to Morgan Wallen,” lifts 12-11 on Hot Hard Rock Songs, following its No. 1 debut in September. It also holds at its No. 20 best on Mainstream Rock Airplay and rises 29-25 on Alternative Airplay.
Rivers died Oct. 18 at age 48 following reported cardiac arrest. “Sam Rivers wasn’t just our bass player — he was pure magic,” the group shared in a statement following his death. “The pulse beneath every song, the calm in the chaos, the soul in the sound. From the first note we ever played together, Sam brought a light and a rhythm that could never be replaced. His talent was effortless, his presence unforgettable, his heart enormous.”
Play By Play Studios / NBA The Run
Gamers have been screaming for the return of NBA Street. Now, former developers of the long-dormant video game franchise look to answer those cries with NBA The Run.
Play By Play Studios, which is comprised of former EA Sports developers, has secured both official NBA and NBPA licenses for its new game, NBA The Run.
NBA The Run will serve as a spiritual successor to EA Sports Big’s iconic 3v3 basketball game, NBA Street, and its equally, if not more popular, sequel, NBA Street Vol . 2.
Before the game landed NBA and NBPA licenses, it was known simply as The Run: Got Next in 2024 and was only going to feature original characters. Now players can look forward to playing street-style basketball using their favorite pro hoopers like Giannis Antetokounmpo, Steph Curry, Anthony Edwards, and even Cooper Flag.
Speaking with Brian Shea of Game Informer, studio founder and CEO Scott Probst touched on learning that he and his team were not alone in their love and appreciation for arcade-style streetball basketball games.
“We didn’t know; we were working in the shadows,” Probst told Game Informer. “We were making The Run: Got Next before it was licensed, and we didn’t really know. We had this sense that players would love this and players would still want it, and I think the reaction that we got was bigger and better than we actually thought it was going to be.”
NBA The Run Will Utilize Rollback Netcode
What made NBA Street so popular among gamers was its coop couch play, sparking many a battle between friends.
NBA The Run hopes to recapture that same energy, but with online crossplay, while using rollback netcode, which fighting games use to reduce the impact of ping differences in multiplayer sessions and level the playing field.
Bobbito Garcia, who handled the play-by-play in NBA Street, is in talks to return to NBA The Run when it launches on PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X|S in 2026.
The reception to the game has been lukewarm, with many asking why not just bring NBA Street back?
We’re gonna hold judgment until we get hands-on with the game. Who knows, NBA The Run could be a banger.
Peep more reactions below.
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The 50 Cent-produced BMF series has been canceled at Starz after four seasons, the last of which wrapped up in August.
The series was based on the rise and fall of the Black Mafia Family empire, which was started in Southwest Detroit by brothers Demetrius “Big Meech” Flenory and Terry Flenory in 1985.
The drug trafficking and money laundering organization built a network that spanned the United States, with hubs in Atlanta and Los Angeles, lasting into the 2000s when a plethora of federal raids, arrests and indictments caused the empire to crumble.
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50 Cent produced the show through his G-Unit Film and Television division alongside Lionsgate TV. Big Meech’s son, Demetrius Flenory Jr. and Da’Vinchi starred as the Flenory brothers in the series, which also boasted a cast that included Russell Hornsby, Kash Doll, Michole Briana White, Eric Kofi-Abrefa, Myles Truitt, Steve Harris and Lala Anthony.
As pointed out by The Hollywood Reporter, Starz CEO Jeffrey Hirsch revealed his disappointment in season four during a quarterly earnings call in August. “[Season four] resulted in modest sequential declines in OTT subscribers and revenue,” he said.
The cancellation echoes Hirsch’s statements at a conference in March, where he revealed the company’s pursuit of launching new series rather than continuing older shows, since they become costly after a few seasons.
“When seasons go from one to two to three to four [seasons], three to four is where the cost really pops because most of the actors get bigger raises, and you have to really manage that,” he said, per Deadline. “So, you have to have in your portfolio of development shows that can actually replace shows as they get into later seasons.”
As far as what’s left of the 50-Starz empire, Power spinoffs Raising Kanan and Force are returning for a final season. There’s also a Power: Origins prequel series in production.
Billboard has reached out to Starz and 50 Cent for comment.
Kid Rock is facing backlash for another of his appearances on Fox News. During his Oct. 24 appearance on Jesse Watters Primetime, the musician used the R-word when telling the host that he was going to be for Halloween, and now, the Special Olympics is speaking out about his use of the slur.
“The R-Word deeply demeans and harms people with intellectual disabilities,” begins the open letter posted to the Special Olympics website that was penned by Loretta Claiborne, the organization’s chief inspiration officer. “I’m writing to you personally with an urgent request: Please acknowledge the hurt caused and use this moment to stand with us in rejecting that word and the prejudice it represents … Words like ‘retarded’ and ‘retard’ have a long, painful history of being used to belittle and dehumanize. When anyone, especially someone in the public eye uses them, it reopens wounds that so many of us have worked so hard to heal.”
A Pennsylvania native, Claiborne is a speaker and multi-sport athlete who earned the 1996 Arthur Ashe ASPY Courage Award, which Denzel Washington personally presented to her. The seven-time gold medalist was also the first Special Olympics athlete elected to the Special Olympics International Board of Directors.
“You have the chance to turn this incident into a statement of strength, to acknowledge the harm, to stand with people with intellectual disabilities, and to help lead the conversation toward greater understanding and respect,” the letter continues. “I would be honored to speak with you and share more about the movement for inclusion and respect that has changed so many lives, including my own. Together, we can use this moment to build a world where every person is valued and respected.”
Although the 2010s saw a decline in the use and tolerance of the R-word, the slur has been creeping back into the mainstream lexicon this decade — but people are pushing back on its resurgence.
Billboard has reached out to Kid Rock for comment.
The musician’s R-word controversy isn’t the first time Kid Rock’s language has drawn ire. In a 2024 Rolling Stone profile, the country-rock singer repeatedlyfired off the N-word and brandished a gun. Three years prior, he spouted a homophobic slur while onstage at a Tennessee bar. “You f—king [slur] with your iPhones out!” he screamed. He defended his words on X at the time, writing in third-person, “If Kid Rock using the word f—-t offends you, good chance you are one. Either way, I know he has a lot of love for his gay friends and I will have a talk with him.”
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“Someday, through a world tour, I want TWS to reach another major level of growth. To do that, I want to become a more self-directed person.”
You were selected as Billboard‘s K-Pop Rookie of the Month in January by Billboard Korea and Billboard U.S. What has changed over these nine months?
We successfully wrapped our first tour in Japan and tried a hip-hop concept with the pre-release “Head Shoulders Knees Toes.” It was a meaningful stretch of time in many ways. Through those changes, we became closer not only among ourselves but also with 42 [our fandom]. Personally, I also spent time thinking about how to make myself a more valuable person.
How do you define “a valuable person”?
Simply put, someone who’s self-directed. To be that, I first had to know who I am and what I truly want to do. As TWS’s Youngjae, I’d like to be someone who broadly makes a positive impact on society and the public through music.
“Head Shoulders Knees Toes” is a strong hip-hop track that differs from TWS’s previous image. What was your first reaction on hearing it?
Because the song itself is so high-energy and different from our earlier image, we needed time to adjust — myself included. If we were going to make a change, I didn’t want that first attempt to fall flat. So we spoke more candidly than ever about our concerns — right down to the tricky parts — to make sure both fans and the general public would receive it well.
Did anything change in your vocal approach?
Up to now, I focused on a clean, pristine feel — a tone people might describe as “pretty.” For “Head Shoulders Knees Toes,” I tried to sing rougher. Since it was unfamiliar, I took breaks when it didn’t work, then tried again — with the mindset of “break the limit.” During recording I kept asking, “Can I try it this way?” and looked for places to add a bit of my own color.
What about the title track “OVERDRIVE”?
The moment I heard it, I thought, “That’s our song.” [Laughs] The melody felt like home, so recording was enjoyable and relaxed. I could already imagine how we’d look performing it as TWS.
TWS’s music evokes a bright blue for many listeners. What color was added this time?
Through B-sides, we’ve been trying things beyond bright tracks — like “Comma,” “Double Take,” and “Oh Mymy : 7s.” Those attempts piled up and paved the way for a song like “Head Shoulders Knees Toes.” With this album, I think we added a slightly darker tone to the color people associate with TWS.
You talk about teamwork a lot. Anything you want to say to the members?
We’re all still young — our maknae Kyungmin is 19, and I’m 21 — so we’ve all worked really hard since early on. Even if we sometimes miss out on things kids our age get to enjoy, I think it’s amazing how passionately everyone commits to what they love. I’m grateful that we’re building good memories together in the midst of those limited days.
What reaction would make you happiest from listeners of this album?
“If it’s TWS, I’ll listen — no questions.” That one line would make me truly happy.
A vocalist you’d like to collaborate with someday?
Dean. He’s an artist in every sense — fashion, music, vocal. He communicates his own color across different fields in a way that connects with the public. In so many ways, I want to learn from him.
You mentioned a songwriter’s ambition, too. What are you doing for that despite your busy schedule?
I’ve been taking piano lessons — paused for now — because I think you should be able to handle at least one instrument to compose. Learning an instrument helps in many ways, so I’m trying to keep at it intentionally.
You’re studying Japanese consistently. Your recent Japan tour must’ve given you chances to use it.
The more chances I get to use it, the less satisfied I am — I just want to get better. [Laughs] Whenever we go abroad, I want to keep learning and become more fluent.
What’s your current goal for TWS in the global music market?
A world tour. As we toured Japan, I realized how much you can learn from encountering new cultures in different countries. You grow through that process. Through a world tour, I want us to take another big leap.
You’re not afraid of being thrown into new environments, huh?
Nope. I’m not afraid! [Laughs]
Cam’Ron showed up for J. Cole’s “Ready ’24” track from the North Carolina rapper and producer’s MIght Delete Later project, and is now taking legal action against his past collaborator. Cam’Ron claims J. Cole reneged on plans to collaborate on other tracks or have the Dreamville honcho on the Harlem rapper’s popular podcast program.
TMZ reports that court papers say the artist born Cameron Giles filed a lawsuit alleging that Cole, real name Jermaine Cole, neglected to make good on plans to work on further music with Killa Cam or appear on the It Is What It Is podcast with Mason “Ma$e” Betha and Treasure “Stat Baby” Wilson.
Killa says he recorded the verse in 2022, and between July 2023 and April 2024, he kept in contact with Cole, who kept rebuffing the invitation for further work for reasons not shared in the report.
Cam’Ron is seeking a co-author credit for “Ready ’24” and to be compensated for his time, which totals over $500,000 as of the report.
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Kem captures the No. 1 rank on Billboard’s Adult R&B Airplay chart for the first time since 2022 as “Rock With Me” leads the radio ranking dated Nov. 1. The single, released on the singer-songwriter’s own Kemistry label after a two-decade career with Motown, jumped 4-1 and was the most played song on panel-contributing adult R&B radio stations in the tracking week of Oct. 17-23, according to Luminate.
The new champ surged 27% in plays for the tracking period compared with the previous frame, securing it the Greatest Gainer honor, which is awarded to the song with the biggest weekly increase in play count. Four stations under Connoisseur Media’s umbrella contributed the most spins for the week, with WMJM-FM (Louisville, Ky.) in first place, followed by WMJM-FM (Columbia, S.C.); WROU-FM (Dayton, Ohio) and KDKS-FM (Shreveport, La.).
“Thank you all for rocking with me for all of these years,” Kem shared in part in an exclusive reaction with Billboard, acknowledging his team, “friends at radio fans.” “It feels really good. God bless you, have a great day and keep love on the one.”
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With “Rock With Me,” Kem improves to nine No. 1s on Adult R&B Airplay. He ties Maxwell for the fourth-most leaders among male artists; the pair trail Charlie Wilson (11), Tank and Usher (10 each) in that category. Alicia Keys leads all artists, with 14 champs, dating to the list’s launch in September 1993.
Here’s a review of Kem’s No. 1 collection on Adult R&B Airplay:
Song Title, Artist (if other than Kem), Weeks at No. 1, Date Reached No. 1
“Love Calls,” two, Sept. 13, 2003
“I Can’t Stop Loving You,” seven, May 21, 2005
“Why Would You Stay?,” two, Sept. 25, 2010
“It’s You,” four, Sept. 6, 2014
“Nobody,” nine, Feb. 21, 2015
“Lie to Me,” seven, June 27, 2020
“Live Out Your Love,” feat. Toni Braxton; two, Jan. 2, 2021
“Stuck on You,” one, April 16, 2022
“Rock With Me,” one, Nov. 1, 2025
Elsewhere, “Rock With Me” advances 18-14 on the R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay chart, which ranks songs by combined audience totals from adult R&B and mainstream R&B/hip-hop stations. There, the track soars to 6.2 million in audience, up 26% from the prior week’s total of 4.9 million.
Radio gains spark the single’s No. 21 debut on the multimetric Hot R&B Songs chart, which combines radio airplay figures with streaming and sales data for its calculations. It becomes Kem’s sixth entry to reach the ranking, which began in October 2012.
