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Britney Spears is giving fans another glimpse into her special Christmas with her son, Jayden James Federline. On Friday (Jan. 3), the 43-year-old pop star shared a short video on Instagram featuring her 18-year-old son — whom she reunited with on Dec. 25 — opening a gift by a beautifully decorated Christmas tree. “Nice, nice, […]
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.
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Greeicy’s Dreamy NYE
Greeicy rang in the new year surrounded by her loved ones — including partner Mike Bahía and their son Kai — in Times Square, where she performed as part of Univision’s New Year’s Eve programming. The Colombian singer-songwriter shared a slideshow of photos from that special night on her social media where she also wrote a heartfelt message. “Suddenly the year ended as if it were a dream… a beautiful dream. I know that there were many people watching this moment where a dreamer lived something she could not even imagine… I know there were many and that excites me BUT what I felt when I looked in front and saw those people I love and respect THERE WITH ME???? In the rain with me!!! Seeing their eyes full of emotion and illusion made my end of the year unexplainable,” she expressed.
See the sweet post here.
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Daddy Yankee Wraps 2024 Feeling Grateful
Despite going through a rough moment in his life, Daddy Yankee is closing the year expressing gratitude. The Puerto Rican hitmaker, who in December announced he was divorcing his longtime wife — whom he later filed an injunction against claiming she withdrew $100 million without authorization — posted a video where he’s seen smiling from ear to ear, singing and dancing as he welcomes the new year. The caption is equally optimistic: “2024 was a year of learning, in which I came across a resilient character of my person that I did not know,” he wrote. “Believing in God and waiting on him, without understanding the processes, speaks to me of the growth I am experiencing, and I do not intend to give up. I live in gratitude for the good and the not so good, because I have learned that for those who love God, all things work together for good. To YOU who read me, I wish you health, prosperity, blessings and may JESUS truly be the center of your LIFE. HAPPY 2025!”
Bad Bunny Continues “Bonita Tradición”
Still in the holiday spirit, Benito held his annual “Bonita Tradición” gift giveaway in Puerto Rico as part of the Día de Reyes (Three Kings Day) celebrations. “I feel grateful to contribute my grain of sand for the children and youth of this country, so they know they are not alone in that dream that perhaps they see as unattainable,” Bad Bunny said in a statement. “This little boy came out of this neighborhood and look how he has raised the flag of Puerto Rico high in the whole world. With efforts like this I want them to be convinced that anything is possible and that they can be as great as they want to be.”
The Puerto Rican star is set to drop his new album, Debí Tirar Más Fotos, on Sunday (Jan. 5).
Bad Bunny
Cheery Viruet / Fundación Good Bunny
Rosalía Hints at New Album
Rosalía already has some clear goals for 2025. Among them, to release an album. Ringing in the new year, the Spanish superstar took to social media to share a long list of major accomplishments in 2024, including “surviving another year” and “leaving therapy.” The note also included goals for 2025, such as “to release new album.” Rosalía last dropped an LP in 2022 when she unleashed the Grammy and Latin Grammy-winning album Motomami.
See her post here.
Rauw Alejandro’s “Regalos Pa’ Los Míos” Initiative
Along with his sister and mother, Rauw Alejandro launched Fundación Proyecto PaMaRa, a non-profit organization “dedicated to empowering children, youth and families in the beautiful community of Puerto Rico,” according to a post on social media. To celebrate, Rauw and his family are hosting the fourth annual “Regalo Pa’ Los Míos” on Jan. 4 in San Juan, Puerto Rico that includes free activities and “surprises” for kids 4-12 years old. “Come with your families,” Rauw says in a video he posted on Instagram. “It’s a complete experience and there, you’ll learn more about our project PaMaRa.”
Nicki Minaj has been sued for assault by a man who claims the rapper physically attacked him following a concert in Detroit last April, according to documents filed in Los Angeles Superior Court on Friday (Jan. 3).
In the complaint, the plaintiff, Brandon Garrett, claims that while working as a day-to-day manager for Minaj’s 2024 Pink Friday 2 tour, the rapper (real name Onika Maraj) hit him multiple times after flying into a rage backstage at Little Caesars Arena in Detroit.
According to the lawsuit, the alleged assault occurred on April 21 after Garrett was summoned to Minaj’s dressing room backstage at the arena, where he says he was confronted by Minaj and her former manager Deb Antney about sending another tour employee, identified as hospitality manager Luke Montgomery, to pick up prescriptions for Minaj in his place.
“Ms. Antney asked why Mr. Montgomery was picking up prescriptions on behalf of Defendant Maraj,” the complaint reads, referring to Minaj by her birth name. “Plaintiff responded that he had Mr. Montgomery pick up a prescription in the past because Defendant Maraj wanted it immediately, but Plaintiff was occupied at the venue with Defendant Maraj in the quick change room during a performance because one of Plaintiff’s job duties was assisting Defendant Maraj with dressing during performances.”
Garrett claims that Minaj then became “visibly upset” and “angrily screamed” at him, “Are you f—ing crazy having him pick up my prescription? You have lost your f—ing mind and if my husband was here, he would knock out your f—king teeth. You’re a dead man walking. You just f—ed up your whole life and you will never be anyone, I’ll make sure of it.” Minaj then allegedly “started yelling” at Montgomery, asking what day he picked up the prescriptions and “what exact prescriptions they were.” When Montgomery said he did not remember, Minaj allegedly “screamed” at him “to look through his phone until he finds it.”
The complaint states that when neither Montgomery nor Garrett could find the information Minaj had requested, she “asked to see Mr. Montgomery’s cell phone to read the last text message between Plaintiff and Mr. Montgomery.” After Montgomery allegedly offered up his cell phone to Minaj to read the messages, Garrett says she approached him and “got very close to his face” while continuing to yell at him.
“At this point, Defendant Maraj open-handedly struck Plaintiff on the right side of his face, causing his head to swing backwards as his hat flew off his head,” the complaint reads. Garrett alleges that at this point, several members of Minaj’s security team “swarmed in close” to them before Minaj allegedly “struck Plaintiff on his right wrist, knocking the documents in Plaintiff’s hand onto the floor.”
Garrett claims that Minaj then ordered him out of the room. After complying with her demand, he says he “ran to the nearest restroom and locked himself inside for hours,” during which he says he called his fiance to tell him what had happened. “At this point, Plaintiff’s wrist was throbbing and his face was sore, but he stayed in the restroom because he was terrified and feared for his safety,” the complaint continues. In the “early morning hours” of April 22, Garrett says he then received a text message “from a bus mate on the tour” informing him that Antney said Garrett “would not be riding the bus from Detroit to Chicago,” leaving him stranded.
After arriving back in Chicago on a flight, Garrett says he contacted the Chicago Police Department for a police escort back to his hotel “because he feared for his safety and did not know if his belongings had been removed or tampered with.” He says he filed a police report with the Chicago PD after arriving back at his room, where he allegedly remained “for the next couple days…because he was fearful and traumatized” over the incident. He says he then flew back to Detroit to file a formal police report there.
Garrett is suing for intentional infliction of emotional distress, assault and battery and is asking for punitive and exemplary damages and general damages, among other relief.
A representative for Minaj did not immediately respond to Billboard‘s request for comment. Antney also did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
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Drake is in his feelings, allegedly. The Toronto rapper dropped a new freestyle, titled “Fighting Irish,” which features bars seemingly aimed at his former associates who aligned with Kendrick Lamar after their famed 2024 “beef.”
DRAKE
NEW FREESTYLE 🎙️
(PROD. CONDUCTOR WILLIAMS)
🚨OUT NOW🚨 pic.twitter.com/4KyXY2Yjug
— NFR Podcast (@nfr_podcast) January 3, 2025
Reportedly, the freestyle was originally released on Friday, January 3, via producer Conductor William’s YouTube page. However, it was taken down within the hour. But that was plenty of time to rip the clip elsewhere and for social media detectives to determine who the 6 God was aiming shots at, in verse.
“The world fell in love with the gimmicks, even my brothers got tickets, seemed like they loved every minute/ Just know the s–t is personal to us and wasn’t just business/ Analyzing behavioral patterns is somewhat suspicious,” spits Drake over a Quiet Storm-ready groove in the grainy clip that still managed to make the social media rounds despite the takedown of the original.
The consensus is that LeBron James is one of the subjects of Drizzy’s ire. “Talkin’ bout we family but I’m not the cousin to visit. God forbid we ever gotta tarnish your public image,” raps Drake—bars many assume are aimed at King James. Also, conspiracy theorists were quick to point out that the nickname of LeBron’s high school is the Fighting Irish.
All that to say, the shade isn’t going over well for Drizzy, save for his most devoted fans. In fact, it seems like the majority of folk are accusing the “God’s Plan” rapper of playing the victim.
See for yourself in the reactions compiled below. So much for new and old friends.
1. Can we leave LeBron’s family out of this, though?
2. Bruh…
5. Rick Ross definitely gonna say something.
9. Again, leave LeBron alone.
11. Azealia Banks has entered the chat.
One of the individuals charged in connection with Liam Payne‘s death earlier this week has now been arrested by Argentinian authorities. Braian Paiz, one of two men accused of supplying drugs to Payne prior to his death, was arrested by police on Friday (Jan. 3), according to a CBS News report. The former One Direction […]
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For the past few years Lil Baby has been one of the rap game’s biggest stars and with the new year now underway, the Atlanta representative is looking to keep his spot as a top tier talent well established and drops off some new work to get heads boppin’ and booties twerking.
Coming through with some black-and-white visuals to “F U 2X,” Lil Baby styles out with some ridiculous iced out pieces while stuntin’ with some two-wheelers to show he got some ride-or-die partners right behind him if any problems should arise.
From The A to BK, Troy Ave is still out here doing his own thing and in his clip to “Uptown,” the Brooklyn rapper spends some quality time with his family and takes them to some fancy restaurants, hotels and shopping sprees before lacing his baby boy with a gold watch. Lil homie gonna be stunting like a MF in juior high school.
Check out the rest of today’s drops including work from Large Professor, 38 Spesh, and more.
LIL BABY – “F U 2X”
TROY AVE – “UPTOWN”
LARGE PROFESSOR – “KEY TO THE CITY”
38 SPESH – “DEL LAGO”
DABOII – “ALL BLACK BENZ”
COUSIN STIZZ – “PHENOM”
K CAMP & SERENA SMART – “MURDAA”
JAY CRITCH – “PINK CUPS”
Heidi Klum is ready to make it work — again. As exclusively confirmed by People Friday (Jan. 3), the German supermodel is returning to Project Runway as host, a role she served for 16 seasons before stepping away in 2017. Explore Explore See latest videos, charts and news See latest videos, charts and news The […]
Footage of a 2024 traffic stop between Ice-T — born Tracy Marrow — and a New Jersey police officer surfaced earlier this week. The contentious exchange reportedly went down in May in Hudson County when bodycam footage showed the “Cop Killer” artist was stopped mere feet away from the Department of Motor Vehicles as he […]
Lorduy (real name: David Lorduy Hernández) announced he’s leaving Piso 21 after entering the Colombian group in 2019. Both the artist and the group shared the news on their respective social media accounts in two separate videos on Friday (Jan. 3). Explore Explore See latest videos, charts and news See latest videos, charts and news “After […]
Long before Benny Blanco entered her life, Selena Gomez had her eyes on a handful of stars.
While speaking to W for the publication’s best performances issue published Friday (Jan. 3), the 32-year-old singer-actress shared that she “probably had too many crushes” when she was younger. “Jesse McCartney — when ‘Beautiful Soul’ came out — that was just life-changing for me,” Gomez said, giving one example.
“I loved Chad Michael Murray from One Tree Hill,” she continued. “I also just had crushes more in real life than on actors or musicians.”
Speaking of crushes, the Rare Beauty founder also opened up about her first kisses — on screen and off. Gomez has previously said that her very first smooch was technically with Dylan Sprouse during a guest stint on The Suite Life of Zack and Cody, about which she told W: “It was really funny because both of us were so young. We were figuring out how to kiss. I had never done it, and I was so scared.”
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But of her first kiss without cameras present, Gomez recalled, “My real-life one would probably be with a boy named Juan, and I was 14.”
The “Lose You to Love Me” singer’s W cover comes in honor of her performance in Jacques Audiard’s musical drama Emilia Pérez, for which she recently nabbed a Golden Globes nod for best supporting actress. Her costar in the film, Zoe Saldaña, as well as Ariana Grande, Cynthia Erivo, Zendaya, Paul Mescal and more also posed for the publication’s best performances package.
When Gomez did her interview for the issue, she wasn’t yet engaged to a certain pop-music hitmaker. Now, Blanco is poised to be the Wizards of Waverly Place alum’s forever celebrity crush after he popped the question in December.
The pair had, however, celebrated Halloween 2024 together before Gomez spoke to W, with the Spring Breakers star dressing up as Alice from Alice in Wonderland while her then-boyfriend went all out for a Mad Hatter tribute. “He used prosthetics!” Gomez gushed to the publication.
“Until this year, I hadn’t dressed up for Halloween since I was a kid,” she added. “We were invited to a party, so I had a reason to dress up … I think it’s safe to say we won best costume at the party.”
See Gomez on the cover of W below.