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Jhayco Channels Rock-Star Life With New Album ‘Le Clique: Vida Rockstar (X)’: ‘It’s a New Step in My Career’

Embodying a rock-star spirit with a jet-setter’s itinerary, Jhayco embarks on a new chapter with the release of his fourth studio album, Le Clique: Vida Rockstar (X), due out Friday, Sept 6. Wearing the quintessential rockstar attire — leather pants, sleek black boots, a fitted white T-shirt and shades — Jhayco reveals how his extensive travels and personal evolution have deeply shaped this ambitious new endeavor.

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His most involved project to date, he not only co-wrote but also took a hands-on approach in co-producing the album with industry heavyweights such as Tainy, Haze and El Arma Secreta, among others, and shared that “Le Clique” embodies a larger, more personal concept. “I have a phrase that says, ‘Vida Rockstar is the movement, and Le Clique is my family, my people, my company,’” he explains to Billboard. “It’s a new step in my career, a new chapter. I felt it was crucial to present this to the world, and what better way than to name the album after it.”

After a three-year hiatus following his 2021 album Timelezz, the 31-year-old Puerto Rican ventured globally to record, making stops in Paris, Madrid, Puerto Rico, Miami and Los Angeles. The essence of these diverse cultural capitals is captured throughout the album’s 29 tracks. “The album has a lot of influence from many places,” he notes. “It was very important because in other parts of the world, you can see other kinds of music and other things that people listen to. That’s why it has a lot of diversity of sound. Obviously, all my music has always [been] centered more in the sound of Puerto Rico, but traveling to other places I was inspired by different things, different moments and for me, it was something very special.”

Spanning from skater-leaning pop-punk to reggaetón and trap, the album features a mix of collaborations with both legendary figures and exciting newcomers such as Yandel, Kapo, Dei V, Omar Courtz, DJ Khaled, Eladio Carrión, Peso Pluma, Bryant Myers, Luar La L and Yovngchimi.

Reflecting on his artistic journey, Jhayco expressed his personal connection and satisfaction with the final product. “I’ve gotten to the place where I feel comfortable in every area of my artistry: from the composition, to the production, to the projection, to the energy, and everything I’m doing. That’s why I’ve been working so hard,” he says. “I felt like one year wasn’t enough to really fill every space. You go through so much, and I feel like [the process of making] this album has gone through so much with me, sentimentally, the ups and downs. I’ve put my heart into it, and it’s gonna show in the creativeness.”

Formerly known as Jhay Cortez, the artist has released and featured in one of the most successful singles in pop, such as Bad Bunny’s “Dakiti” and his own hit “No Me Conoce (Remix)” with J Balvin and Bunny.

Watch Jhayco’s interview with Billboard in the video above, and find out about his foray into defining his rock-star persona and novel soundscapes with Le Clique: Vida Rockstar (X).

JHAYCO Talks ‘Le Clique: Vida Rockstar (X),’ Peso Pluma Performance & Collab | Billboard News

JHAYCO has created several viral hits, from “Dakiti” to “No Me Conoce,” and now the Latin star is releasing his third studio album. JHAYCO talks how ‘Le Clique: Vida Rockstar (X)’ is inspired by his childhood, the different themes the album plays into, his performance and collaboration with Peso Pluma more!

Isabela Raygoza: Welcome to Beat by Beat, the Billboard interview. I’m Isabela Raygoza and I’m here with Jhayco. How are you?

Jhayco: Good, good. Happy.

Very happy to have you here in New York. You are about to release a fire album ‘cause I had a preview to listen to. So let’s talk about it. ‘Le Clique: Vida Rockstar (X).’ Exactly. Well, first of all, it’s your first album in three years since ‘Timelezz.’ 

Yes, I was working on this album which took a lot of time, effort and love. And I’m very excited that my fans and the public will get to listen to what I’ve been working on for three years. 

Oh, that must be really exciting. And I love the colors that you have in it, you know the sonic transitions also. What’s the story behind it?

Yeah, so I have this phrase that says “Le Clique is the family, Rockstar life is the movement.” So basically, rockstar life is my movement and Le Clique is like my crew, you know? My company that I will be working with talents in the future and all that. So you know, it’s just my new step in my career, you know? A new chapter, so I felt like it was crucial to present this to the world and what’s better than putting it as a name?

Amazing. And the album does arrive at a new stage in your career, so what does it mean to you just professionally and personally? 

Keep watching to learn more!

A Timeline of Katy Perry & Orlando Bloom’s Relationship

From flirting at an after party to engagement and welcoming a daughter together, here’s a full timeline of Orlando Bloom and Katy Perry’s relationship.

Katy Perry and Orlando Bloom are living proof that love prevails over all.

The “Woman’s World” singer and the Pirates of the Caribbean star first sparked dating rumors back in January 2016, when they were seen dancing together at a Golden Globes after party. The two were then spotted on a number of vacations and out on dates together, before the pop singer made their relationship Instagram official in May 2016. In early 2017, the pair briefly split before reconnecting by the end of the year. Since then they’ve been inseparable, ultimately getting engaged in 2019 and welcoming their daughter Daisy Dove in 2020.

Throughout it all, the pair always has fun together. Most recently, the duo jumped out of a helicopter into the ocean while on vacation, as seen in a clip posted to Perry’s Instagram feed with lyrics from her song “Lifetimes” in the caption. “Like the stars are in the sky/ You and I will find each other / In every single life,” she wrote.

Bloom was previously married to Victoria’s Secret model Miranda Kerr, with whom he shares 13-year-old son Flynn. The duo split in 2013. Perry, meanwhile, was married to actor Russell Brand until 2012.

From flirting at an after party to engagement and welcoming a daughter together, see below for a full timeline of Orlando Bloom and Katy Perry’s relationship.

Who Takes No. 1 as Billboard’s 2024 Song of the Summer? | Billboard News

The summer was full of back-to-back hits, but who took home the crown of Billboard’s 2024 Song of the Summer? Keep watching to find out!

Tetris Kelly:

The song of the summer has been crowned. Can you guess what it is? We’re breaking down your top five right now. Tommy Richman seemed to come out of nowhere with a song you couldn’t escape during the summer of 2024, “Million Dollar Baby,” which is why it’s at No. 5. At No. 4 is a girl who works late ‘cause she’s a singer. “Espresso” catapulted Sabrina Carpenter to chart superstardom, which she followed with another song of the summer track. Next up, a battle of hip-hop. After a lot of back-and-forth between Drake and Kendrick Lamar, KDot dropped a track that became so big, he performed it six times at one show. And sometimes you gotta look to the past to see the future. After being featured on Beyoncé’s ‘Cowboy Carter,’ Shaboozey samples J-Kwon’s 2004 hit “Tipsy” for our No. 2 song on this list, “A Bar Song (Tipsy).” And a song so big it needs two superstars: Post Malone and Morgan Wallen spent six weeks at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 with our 2024 song of the summer, “I Had Some Help.” For the full list, head to billboard.com.

Hailey Bieber Rocks Diamond ‘Mom’ Ring Shortly After Giving Birth to First Child

Hailey Bieber is officially a mom, and has some new ice to go with her new title!

The Rhode founder took to her Instagram Stories to share a photo of her hand, rocking her engagement ring on her ring finger, and a sparkling gold and diamond “Mom” ring on her index finger. See the post before it disappears here.

Per Page Six, the stunning ring is an Isa Grutman Jewelry design that retails for nearly $2,000 and features .21 carats of diamonds amid the 14-karat gold band.

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Last month, Hailey and Justin Bieber welcomed their first child together, a baby boy named Jack Blues Bieber. They shared the exciting news via an Instagram post, in which Hailey’s hand is seen holding her baby’s tiny foot.

The model previously opened up about her pregnancy journey in a W magazine cover story. “I probably could have hid it until the end, but I didn’t enjoy the stress of not being able to enjoy my pregnancy outwardly,” she explained of announcing her pregnancy at the six-month mark. “I felt like I was hiding this big secret, and it didn’t feel good. I wanted the freedom to go out and live my life.”

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She added that she was taking advantage of spending one-on-one time with her musician husband. “In the beginning [of pregnancy], it was super emotional for me,” she told W. “Like, ‘I love this human so much. How can I possibly bring someone else into this?’ I’m trying to soak in these days of it being Justin and me, just the two of us.”

After Four Year Hiatus, the DJ Awards Return With Nominees in House, Trance & More

After a four year hiatus, the DJ Awards are back.

A collection of DJs both famous and rising were recently announced as nominees in the awards’ nine music categories: house, Afro, techno, tech house, drum & bass, organic house, progressive house, breakthrough artist, live act and international DJ. Nominated artists include Peggy Gou, Martin Garrix, Blond:ish, Michael Bibi, Mochakk, Barry Can’t Swim, Francis Mercier, Rüfüs du Sol, Black Coffee and more.

See the complete list of genre nominees below. Voting for the awards is open to the public via the DJ Awards website.

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Beyond the genre awards, categories include a group of industry-focused awards, with the Ibiza Icon award being given as, the awards state, “a tribute to the legendary figures who have shaped Ibiza’s music scene, leaving an indelible mark on the island’s rich club culture and in our hearts.” The Ibiza Track of The Summer award will go to the song that most powerfully soundtracked the summer of 2024 on the island, and a number of awards will acknowledge achievements in the industry and live music space outside of Europe. These awards will be be voted for by dance industry execs from the Association For Electronic Music (AFEM).

The ceremony is set for Oct. 2 at the island’s Club Chinois. Tickets for the event go on sale Sept. 13, the same day that public voting closes. 2024 marks the 23rd year for the DJ Awards, with the ceremony founded in 1998 by Ibiza residents José Pascual and Lenny Krarup.

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The Awards are now under new ownership after being taken over earlier this year by Andy Grant, who recently told Mixmag that in 2024 “the most important outcome being to gain the respect of the global dance community as the new trusted guardians of this responsibility. Beyond that everything is on the table, and my vision is nothing short of positioning the DJ Awards alongside the Oscars and the Brit Awards in terms of scale, reach and recognition.”

2024 DJ Awards Music Categories & Nominees:

House

  • Gorgon City
  • Honey Dijon
  • Kerri Chandler
  • Sam Divine
  • Seth Troxler
  • Syreeta
  • TSHA

Trance

  • Armin van Buuren
  • Astrix
  • Dash Berlin
  • Infected Mushroom
  • Paul Van Dyk
  • Tiësto
  • Vini Vici

Techno

  • Amelie Lens
  • Charlotte de Witte
  • Indira Paganotto
  • Paco Osuna
  • Nico Moreno
  • Sara Landry
  • Sven Väth

Progressive House

  • ARTBAT
  • CamelPhat
  • Cristoph        
  • Eli & Fur
  • Eric Prydz
  • Franky Wah
  • Hernán Cattáneo
  • Tale of Us

Organic House

  • Bedouin
  • BLOND:ISH
  • Jan Blomqvist
  • Monolink
  • Patrice Bäumel
  • Robag Wruhme
  • WhoMadeWho

Tech House

  • Jamie Jones
  • Joseph Capriati
  • Marco Carola
  • The Martinez Brothers
  • Michael Bibi
  • Mochakk
  • PAWSA
  • Solomun
  • Vintage Culture

Afro

  • Black Coffee
  • Francis Mercier
  • Kelvin Momo
  • KILIMANJARO
  • Kitty Amor
  • Major League DJz
  • Pablo Fierro
  • Themba

Live Act

  • Barry Can’t Swim
  • Ben Böhmer
  • Bicep
  • Fred Again..
  • Mathew Jonson
  • Róisín Murphy
  • Rüfüs du Sol

Drum & Bass

  • Bou
  • Chase & Status
  • Hedex
  • Nia Archives
  • Sub Focus
  • Wilkinson

The Riot Noise Breakthrough Artist

  • Archie Hamilton
  • Ben Sterling
  • Desiree
  • Fleur Shore
  • James Hype
  • Miss Monique
  • Sammy Virji
  • Wade

International DJ

  • Calvin Harris
  • David Guetta
  • Dimitri Vegas & Like Mike
  • Fisher
  • Martin Garrix
  • Peggy Gou
  • Swedish House Mafia

Reviewers Say This $40 Dance-and-Crawl Spidey Interactive Plush Toy Is ‘Filled With So Much Fun’: Get Yours Now

All products and services featured are independently chosen by editors. However, Billboard may receive a commission on orders placed through its retail links, and the retailer may receive certain auditable data for accounting purposes.

Are you celebrating your child’s birthday this month? If your child is ages three and up, consider adding this Marvel Spidey and His Amazing Friends Plush Toy to your cart. This toy is a great option for both boys and girls, bringing hours of fun with its engaging features. According to the brand, all you need to do is simply push the web on Spidey’s foot to activate dance mode. This one of a kind feature is sure to turn your space into a dance party with your toddler.

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If that’s not enough, this toy also features 20 phrases and sounds, two instrumental songs, and interactive pretend wall-crawling action that your child will love. One Walmart customer said, “Kids absolutely adore their new spider toy. They love Spider Man to start with, but this toy provides them engagement and entertainment for quite a while. The batteries last a long time and the volume isn’t too annoying for mom and dad!”

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You can find this interactive toy on Amazon and Walmart. It’s also available at Target for pickup at select stores. Hurry, go get it before it’s gone.

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Marvel Spidey and His Amazing Friends Dance ‘N Crawl Spidey Interactive Plush Toy

Get ready to do the Spidey dance, the Spidey crawl, and the 20 Spidey sounds and phrases that are sure to encourage playful interaction between you and your toddler. One Amazon customer said, “This is giftable and so cool. I got this for my son on his birthday and he loved it. It is filled with so much fun and the spider toy is made of good quality and is strong… it’s a nice toy for anyone that is obsessed with Spider-Man like my boy.”

Customers also love that no assembly is required—it’s ready for your child to enjoy right out of the box.

For more product recommendations, check out these Peppa Pig Lego Duplo Sets, this Care Bear Grumpy as Frankenstein Plush Toy, and these Harry Potter inspired squishmallows.

James Darren, Pop Singer & ‘Gidget’ Actor, Dies at 88

James Darren, the former teen idol and pop singer who played the dreamy surfer Moondoggie in three Gidget movies before starring on television on The Time Tunnel and T.J. Hooker, died Monday. He was 88.

Darren died in his sleep at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles, his son Jim Moret, a correspondent for Inside Edition, told The Hollywood Reporter. He had entered the hospital for an aortic valve replacement but was deemed too weak to have the surgery; he went home but had to return.

“I always thought he would pull through,” Moret said, “because he was so cool. He was always cool.”

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Early in his career, the dark-haired Darren received excellent notices for starring in Let No Man Write My Epitaph (1960) — portraying the son of a hoodlum defended by Humphrey Bogart’s character in 1949’s Knock on Any Door — and for playing the Greek soldier Spyros Pappadimos in The Guns of Navarone (1961).

Even though he could not surf, the Philadelphia native got the role of Moondoggie (real name: Jerry Matthews) opposite three actresses as the precocious Malibu teen: Sandra Dee in Gidget (1959), Deborah Walley in Gidget Goes Hawaiian (1961) and Cindy Carol in Gidget Goes to Rome (1963). 

Darren revived his singing career in the late ’90s when he appeared on several episodes of the syndicated series Star Trek: Deep Space Nine as the holographic lounge singer Vic Fontaine, a role he called “one of the most enjoyable” he ever played.

Several of his Frank Sinatra-styled performances were recorded for the 1999 album This One’s From the Heart.

After many years out of the limelight, Darren made an impression as the husband of a bar owner in Harry Dean Stanton‘s final film, Lucky (2017).

James William Ercolani was born on June 8, 1936. Growing up on South 10th Street in South Philadelphia, he was inspired by another Philly native, Eddie Fisher, to become a singer and actor, and he commuted to New York to study acting with Stella Adler.

While in the city, the owner of a photography shop connected him to Columbia Pictures talent scout Joyce Selznick (David O. Selznick’s niece), and he went on to sign a contract with the studio.

Darren made his film debut as a high school senior and gang member opposite Robert Blake in the crime drama Rumble on the Docks (1956), then followed with roles in Operation Mad BallThe Brothers Rico and The Tijuana Story in 1957 and Gunman’s Walk in ’58. 

The Gidget movies made him extremely popular with young ladies. 

“The defining moment was when I was at a studio in San Francisco and word got out that I was there,” he recalled in a 2015 interview with Los Angeles magazine. “Thousands of girls were screaming out front. When I had to leave the building, they tackled me to the ground and pulled pieces of my hair out. The police had to rescue me and took me to the roof until things settled down.”

To land the Gidget gig, Darren had to convince the producers that he could carry a tune. “They were going to use somebody else’s voice, but I told them I could sing,” he said. “We went into one of the soundstages with a piano player and I sang the song and they said, ‘He can do it.’ Then they put me on their label, Colpix.”

Darren also was heard performing in All the Young Men (1960), Diamond Head (1962), Under the Yum Yum Tree (1963) and For Those Who Think Young (1964).

He sang “Almost in Your Arms” at the 1959 Academy Awards and “It’s a Mad Mad Mad Mad World” on the 1964 Oscar telecast; performed as Yogi Bear in a 1964 animated film; and did a number on a 1965 episode of The Flintstones.

He also played the best friend opposite Sal Mineo in The Gene Krupa Story (1959), starred as a car mechanic in The Lively Set (1964) and ventured to Italy to topline Venus in Furs (1969) with Barbara McNair.

Darren was married to childhood sweetheart Gloria Terlitsky from 1955 until their 1958 divorce and to Evy Norlund, a former Miss Denmark, from 1960 until his death. He lived for decades in a home on Kimridge Road in Beverly Ridge Estates that had been owned by Audrey Hepburn.

In addition to his wife and Moret, survivors include his other sons, Christian and Anthony; grandchildren Amanda, Carly, Matthew, Natalie and Nicholas; and goddaughter A.J. Lambert, daughter of Nancy Sinatra.

Over the years, Darren encountered many fans of his music, some of them unexpected.

“I was in a pizza shop one day with a friend of mine. I heard this motorcycle pull up, and in walked Bruce Springsteen in his little motorcycle cap, like Brando wore in The Wild One — I guess he left his helmet outside,” he recalled in his chat with Weaver. “I said, ‘Oh, I gotta go say hi to him.’

“I walked up to him and said, ‘Hi, I don’t want to interrupt you, but my name is James Darren. I just want to tell you I’m a big fan. I love all your stuff.’ And he said, ‘James Darren? I bought “Goodbye Cruel World” in Freehold, New Jersey.’ Isn’t that sweet?”

–Duane Byrge contributed to this report

This article was originally published by The Hollywood Reporter.

Mase Credits ‘Alkaline Diet’ for 70-Pound Weight Loss Transformation

Cam’ron and Mase’s It Is What It Is returned for the fall on Monday (Sept. 2) and the co-hosts didn’t waste any time addressing Mase’s new look.

Mase debunked any Ozempic allegations or rumors of using a weight loss drug to fuel his 70-pound transformation. “You took the needle,” Cam poked at his co-host with a laugh. “So what did you do to lose the weight, man?”

The rapper-turned-pastor brushed off the allegations and explained the new diet a bodybuilder put him on. “That’s the hate I want. That’s the hate I needed,” Mase replied. “I signed up with this coach named Ricky Moore, that’s a professional bodybuilder, and he just put me on the alkaline diet. I’m only eating fruit, vegetables and water for now.”

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Cam ultimately expressed he was happy to see his friend turn the clock back with a slimmer figure to go alongside his fuller hairline and whiter teeth.

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“You look great, man. You look like back in high school,” Killa said. “I’m happy to see it.”

Fans began debating if Mase was telling the truth on social media. “Comment section sad fr,” one person wrote on X. “I see a bunch of dudes hating on someones progression and speculating stuff vs just genuinely being happy for one of the OGs . I hate social media fr!”

Expect to see plenty more of Mase and Cam this fall with It Is What It Is returning just in time for football season. With O.J. Simpson passing away earlier this year, the co-hosts tapped Dallas Cowboys legend Michael Irvin to replace the late Juice on their weekly NFL spots.

Mase isn’t the only artist facing Ozempic allegations. Ice Spice shut down rumors of taking any weight loss medications last month while on tour sporting a slimmer figure.

“I actually came on here to talk about that real quick. I wish y’all never learned the word Ozempic,” she said in an August Twitter Spaces. “That’s one thing I wish. Oh my God! Like, what even is Ozempic? What the f–k is that? Genuinely, what is that?”

She continued: “You lazy-a– b—–s never heard of a gym? It’s called the gym, it’s called eating healthy, it’s called being on tour. Like, what the hell? Maybe if I was sitting at home all f–king day, it’d be easier to stay big.”

Watch the episode of It Is What It Is below.



Sabrina Carpenter Says First Billboard 200 No. 1 ‘Feels Really Special’

Sabrina Carpenter achieved a career milestone this week as her latest studio album, Short n’ Sweet, topped the Billboard 200 albums chart, marking her first leader on the tally. To celebrate, the 25-year-old pop star took to social media to thank fans for their support.

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“can’t express my gratitude. My first #1 album!!!!” she wrote in an Instagram post. “thank you for listening to short n’ sweet. thank you for believing in me all these years! couldn’t do any of this without you ?:’) this feels really special. love you all.”

The five-foot tall singer jokingly added on X, “big week for the vertically challenged.”

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Short n’ Sweet is Carpenter’s seventh charting album but first to reach the top 20. Her first visit to the chart came in 2015 with Eyes Wide Open, peaking at No. 43. Until this week, Carpenter’s best chart rank came with the 2022 release Emails I Can’t Send, which debuted and peaked at No. 23. 

She also simultaneously has three songs in the top five of the Hot 100 songs chart. At No. 2 is Carpenter’s “Taste,” followed by “Please Please Please,” which boosted up from 9-3 after it became her first No. 1 in June. “Espresso” jumps 7-4 after previously peaking at No. 3.