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Taylor Swift vs. Billie Eilish: Whose Fans Will Pull Through in Fan Army Face-Off 2024? | Billboard News

The quarterfinals of Billboard‘s Fan Army Face Off is here, and it’s Taylor Swift versus Billie Eilish. Keep watching to see how they stack up against each other!

Vote now!

Tetris Kelley:
It’s the quarterfinals of Billboard‘s Fan Army Face-Off, and these matchups are getting intense. Our first matchup is the Swifties vs. Billie Eilish fans. They both had spectacular years, but how do they stack up? Taylor dropped Morgan Wallen, Drake and Ariana Grande to make it to the quarterfinals. Taylor released her 15th studio album this year, which has sat on top of the Billboard 200 for 12 weeks. She has 283 million followers, 96.4 million monthly listeners on Spotify and a whopping 14 Grammys.

As for Billie, she bested Olivia Rodrigo, Nicki Minaj and Eminem. Billie just released her third studio album, has half the followers on Insta, but more monthly listeners on Spotify. Billie has nine Grammys. She’s the only woman to sweep the Big Four in one year, and she has two Oscars.

Who are you voting for? Head over to billboard.com to see who’s in the lead and cast your vote. 

Ice Spice Breaks Down Six Essential Tracks From Her ‘Y2K!’ Debut Album

Ice Spice’s Y2K! arrived on July 26 as one of the most anticipated rap debut albums in recent memory. The 24-year-old — born on Jan. 1, 2000 — has packed a career’s worth of accolades for most artists into the last two years since becoming the face of New York’s drill scene.

While she could’ve attacked the project in myriad different ways, Ice made the conscious decision of getting back to the essence of what made her a star. She crafted a drill-heavy project alongside right-hand producer RIOTUSA, who sharply laid the sonic foundation, then had Mike Dean come in from the bullpen to lend his mixing/mastering expertise.

The Bronx princess continued to sneer at her opps and radiate unbridled charisma along with delivering some toilet-themed lyrics at the Spice Cabinet’s amusement throughout Y2K!. “We wanted to make what we like,” Ice told Billboard. “I just love drill beats, and his specifically. We just locked in for a whole year and really got to it when we could. We have the busiest schedules, but I think that’s why it’s important to have a close bond with whoever you’re collaborating with.”

At times, she experimented with her voice and flows, but never steered off the highway to crash before her destination. With 10 tracks and 23 minutes of run time featuring cameos from Travis Scott, Gunna and Central Cee, Ice Spice kept her debut concise instead of opting to overstuff a burdensome project like some of her peers.

Y2K! began to take form at the top of the year when Ice Spice had her toes in the sand while enjoying the beaches and serenity of Turks and Caicos where she recorded a few records during the trip. She would set up shop wherever her career took her while spending time in Miami, Los Angeles and back home in New York City.

Ice also revealed she was bumping a lot of Chief Keef and riding around Miami to the Chicago drill pioneer’s music, which influenced her creativity heading into the album. The Grammy-nominated MC also admits there was some turbulence and unexpected hurdles before the finish line: “For both projects that I’ve made, there’s been sample issues and feature clearances that we run into — but that’s part of the process,” she says, shrugging.

Y2K! debuted at No. 18 on this week’s Billboard 200 — and despite the outside noise, the rap star is proud of her growth while she treks across the U.S. on her Y2K! World Tour.

“Like..? did 15k so thank u to everyone who supported me then & thank u to all the new supporters,” she wrote to X. “Y2K! WORLD TOUR been so fun that these numbers are cool and all but bitch u should of seen that Boston CROWD last night NYC TOMORROW.”

Ice Spice detailed to Billboard how a handful of the album’s tracks came to fruition. Check out the converesation below.

21 Savage’s 8th Annual Issa Back to School Drive Offers Lessons in Financial Literacy

21 Savage has been giving back to his community for nearly a decade through his Leading By Example Foundation.

During the 8th Annual Issa Back to School Drive over the weekend, the Atlanta rapper partnered with nonprofit Wealthy Habits to introduce a digital financial literacy workbook entitled Master Your Money: Financial Success 101 Guide with 21 Savage. About 3,000 people kids and parents were in attendance to receive essential back-to-school supplies and physical copies of the workbook. Some of the tips include short-term goals such as saving up for emergencies and vacations, as well as ways to pay off small debt. Long-term goals include tips on planning for retirement, home buying and education.

Master Your Money also features “SMART” goals, which should be specific, measurable, attainable, relevant and time-bound. The workbook gives tips on spending wisely, investing early, managing risk, budgeting and helping kids understand how credit works.

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This isn’t the first time 21 has tried to help with financial literacy. Back in 2018, he established the 21 Savage Bank Account program with Get Schooled. The program helped with job placements at Mercedes-Benz Stadium and featured an online education program.

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For his efforts in DeKalb County over the years, Georgia Congressman Hank Johnson and DeKalb County Commissioner Mereda Davis Johnson honored the rapper by declaring Aug. 4 as 21 Savage Day.

21 was honored by the state of Georgia with Dec. 21 being proclaimed 21 Savage Day in 2022 during his Grant-a-Wish holiday giveback, and Fulton County declared Dec. 10 as 21 Savage Appreciation Day in 2023.

Walmart’s Bestselling TV Stand Will Give Your Home a ‘Modern’ Touch — for Less Than $200

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.

Owning a TV allows you to watch all of your favorite streaming platforms in one spot while you unwind from a long day. The view you watch from, though, is just as important — especially when you’re entertaining. Instead of keeping your TV mounted to a wall with nothing underneath — or worse, on the floor — a TV stand can instantly dress up your living room while providing additional storage in a stylish fashion.

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While you could splurge on a luxurious high-end version, Walmart‘s offering an elevated TV stand for less than $200 that’s not only a bestseller, but offers a “modern” finish that reviewers are obsessed with.

Trending on Billboard

You can finally give your blank walls a makeover with Better Homes and Garden’s Lilian TV stand, which shows off a wooden finish with various storage options, including two open slots and three cabinet doors for you to place your gaming console, turntable and even vinyl record player accessories. Plus, at $164, you’ll be getting a luxurious look for less.

Keep reading to learn more.

Walmart

Better Homes & Gardens Lillian Fluted TV Stand

The TV stand has been rated a Walmart bestseller, with more than 100 shoppers already putting the storage solution in their carts as of press time. While the front of the stand comes with various cabinet and shelf options, the back has two cable cutaways to seamlessly connect your TV and media devices.

If you’re looking for a more natural look in your home, then the wooden finish is versatile enough to bring a more put-together feel without taking away from you statement decor. The TV stand also comes in white though for those who prefer a more crisp vibe.

Reviewers can’t stop praising how the “gold detail and fluted cabinets gives” their home a more elevated appearance, while the wooden construction is “thick and sturdy.” One shopper was even able to place a 55-inch TV on the stand with no issues.

For more product recommendations, check out ShopBillboard‘s roundups of the best bedding deals, board games for adults and media storage cabinets.

Chlöe Taps Sister Halle, Ty Dolla $ign, YG Marley & More for ‘Trouble in Paradise’: See the Tracklist

Chlöe shared the tracklist for her upcoming sophomore album Trouble in Paradise on Tuesday (Aug. 6).

The 16-track project includes features with Ty Dolla $ign (“Might As Well”), Anderson .Paak (“Favorite”), YG Marley (“Never Let You Go”), her sister Halle (“Want Me”) and Jeremih (“Shake”). She had previously revealed in her June Nylon cover story that she would have collaborations with Halle, Anderson and Jeremih on her new LP.

While sharing the tracklist, Chlöe also shared a saucy snippet of the fourth track “Redemption.” “I’m not really big on redemption, mm, no no/ Thinking I might make an exception for you, you/ Body from another dimension, so, oh-oh/ So give me everything and then some,” she sings in the chorus.

Trouble in Paradise will be released on Friday, Aug. 9, via Parkwood Entertainment and Columbia Records.

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“It’s what a summer fling feels and tastes like,” she told Billboard of the album on the red carpet at the 2024 BET Awards. She also revealed the inspiration behind the LP’s production: “I have been obsessed with the Caribbean, so definitely Afrobeats-inspired, island vibes. That’s what I’ve been inspired by, so you’ll definitely hear some little nuances of that in there.”

Trouble in Paradise arrives more than a year after her solo debut album, In Pieces. The 14-track LP included collaborations with Chris Brown (“How Does It Feel”), Missy Elliott (“Told Ya”) and Future (“Cheatback”). The set reached No. 119 on the Billboard 200 and No. 17 on Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums.

See the Trouble in Paradise tracklist in the third image of her Instagram carousel post.

Shark Beauty Debuts Foldable Hair Dryer: Here’s Where You Can Buy the SpeedStyle Pro Flex

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.

If your hair has had enough of the summer heat and unbearable humidity, there’s help on the way — but we’re not talking about cooler temperatures (not yet, at least).

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Shark Beauty introduced a new blow dryer that’s portable enough to travel and powerful enough to cut down on drying time. The SpeedStyle ProFlex is a foldable blow dryer packed with “high-velocity air flow for fast and easy drying,” according to a press release.

Besides a foldable handle and plenty of power, the $300 blow dryer is equipped with Heat IQ technology that protects your scalp from heat damage by measuring and regulating temperatures 1,000 times per second, and never exceeding 230-degree Fahrenheit, per the product description.

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Shark Beauty

Shark SpeedStyle Pro Flex Hair Dryer

The SpeedStyle Pro Flex measures 6.58 inches x 1.89 inches and 9.76-inches high. It weighs just over half a pound, and the air flow adjusts from 0 to 100 mph in less than a second.  

In addition to the SpeedStyle Pro Flex, Shark Beauty debuted the SpeedStyle Pro ($199), an intelligent hair dryer equipped with Heat IQ technology and plenty of styling accessories, and it’s available in matte black.

The SpeedStyle Pro hasn’t dropped yet, but you can pre-order it below.

Shark Beauty

Shark SpeedStyle Pro Hair Dryer

Both hair dryers feature a Scalp Shield Mode button that instantly reduces the heat, and accessories to assist in styling such as the Frizz Fighting Finishing Tool and Quicksmooth Brush. The SpeedStyle ProFlex also comes with a Turbo Concentrator designed for fast and sleek styling and Defrizz Fast Diffuser to redefine your curls.

If you’re already familiar with the Shark SpeedStyle (one of my personal favorite blow dryers under $200), the SpeedStyle Pro and Pro Flex offer an upgrade on a great hair dryer that helps you achieve salon-worthy blowouts at home – also a good option for students in hair school.

Does the Shark SpeedStyle rival Dyson? Shark Beauty’s product lineup offers one of the best alternatives to Dyson AirwrapandotherDysonhair tools at half the price, without sacrificing many of the same features and similar technology.

Kehlani’s Ex Files for Full Custody of Daughter, Claims Singer’s in a Cult | Billboard News

Kehlani ex and father of her daughter, Javaughn Young-White, has accused the singer of being in a cult as he files for full custody of their daughter. Keep watching for the details.

Tetris Kelly:
Kehlani is being accused of being in a cult by her ex, who is seeking full custody of their daughter. In court documents filed on July 24 and obtained by Billboard, Kehlani’s ex-partner Javaughn Young-White has petitioned to gain legal and full custody of their 5-year-old daughter. Young-White claims he has attempted to retrieve his daughter in the past, but was allegedly “physically restrained and threatened” by members of what he referred to as a cult.

In the filing, he claims Kehlani “has been involved in this cult for the past few years and it appears that this cult controls her actions and her behavior, including when it comes to the upbringing of our daughter.” Young-White, whose name does not appear on their daughter’s birth certificate, claims “everyone else has a bigger say-so when it comes to upbringing our daughter than I do,” and said he’s requested a copy of both the child’s birth certificate and social security number, both to no avail.

He ended the filing by saying, “I am not here to disparage [Kehlani]. However, the environment that she has created for herself is not the type of environment that a child should be living and therefore, I bring myself to the mercy and wisdom of the Court to save my daughter before it is too late.”

Kehlani has not yet publicly responded to the allegations in Young-White’s petition for custody. Billboard has reached out to reps for both the singer and her former partner for comment.

Gamma Strikes Strategic Partnerships in Africa and the Middle East

Gamma has established strategic partnerships with The Music Arena, The Temple Company and Sol Generation Publishing and Distribution in Africa as well as LPME Records in the Middle East.

Gamma’s latest partnerships bolster the company’s commitment to supporting artists and labels in these regions, which its founder Larry Jackson outlined last year to Billboard when his media and entertainment company first expanded its operations there. Last May, Sipho Dlamini and Naomi Campbell joined gamma as president and special advisor for Africa and the Middle East, respectively; Larry Gaaga was named vp/GM for Africa and Dany Neville was named vp of A&R for the Middle East last August.

“It’s incredibly gratifying to see the enthusiasm shown by our new strategic partners, their artists and stakeholders in aligning with gamma. We’re well under way, engaged in bolstering the creative momentum for artists from these key markets,” Dlamini said in a press statement. “An indication of our ambition is that in conjunction with our new partners we’re generating writing camps in Nigeria, South Africa, Kenya and the [United Arab Emirates]. I don’t know of another company that is navigating the continent and region in this manner with this reach. The creative collaborations we’re establishing will further travel local music to global adoption.”

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In June, the company officially launched gamma South Africa in Sandton, one of the country’s biggest financial hubs within Johannesburg. Gamma hosted a launch party on June 6, with Dlamini, Gaaga, Thabo Keith Ngweya, gamma’s strategic partnerships & culture marketing lead for Africa, Sikhulile Nzuza, gamma’s strategic partnerships, culture & operations lead for Africa, and more in attendance. The company has been providing dynamic opportunities for South African acts since last year, such as tapping DJ/producer MöRDA to remix “Mysterious Ways” on The Color Purple (Music From And Inspired By) that the company distributed alongside WaterTower Music last December (with Jackson as one of the producers, alongside Quincy Jones and Scott Sanders). Gamma recruited MöRDA again as well as Major League Djz, Junior Taurus and Soa Mattrix to create amapiano and Afro House-inspired remixes of Usher and Nigerian singer-songwriter and producer Pheelz’s “Ruin” from the former’s latest album COMING HOME that was distributed via Usher and L.A. Reid‘s mega and gamma in February.

Gamma’s partnership with the Johannesburg-based conglomerate The Music Arena aims to continue bridging the gap between South African artists and international markets by providing artists with unprecedented opportunities to collaborate with an international label, leveraging gamma’s expertise in the global market (especially in the U.S.), with a special focus on artist collaborations and joint ventures.

The Music Arena is comprised of three different music entities: Gallo Music, South Africa’s largest and oldest independent record label; Gallo Music Publishers, Gallo’s publishing arm that’s home to iconic composers and a rich repository of cultural works; and Content Connect Africa, the continent’s leading independent media and content business that represents over 2,000 African artists and labels. The Music Arena’s global footprint spans South Africa, Uganda, Nigeria, Ghana and the U.S.

“The Music Arena is delighted to be partnering with gamma in a multi-faceted deal, which will grow our artists’ presence internationally as well as represent gamma’s artists on the network operators’ platforms in Africa,” said Antos Stella, CEO of The Music Arena, in a statement. “Our focus remains on developing and growing our artists and composers globally.”

Gamma’s new alliances aim to cover the entire African continent. The company’s partnership with The Temple Company, a leading record label, TV/film production company and talent management agency based in Lagos, aims to connect Nigerian artists to global audiences by developing and promoting Nigerian talent, with a special focus on cross-cultural collaborations to maximize international exposure. One of the first projects from this partnership is Nigerian superstar D’Banj‘s new album Entertainer–The Sequel, the follow-up to his 2008 album The Entertainer, which will be released on Aug. 16.

“Our partnership with gamma marks a pivotal moment for The Temple Company and the Nigerian music industry at large. This collaboration will open up new opportunities for our artists to showcase their talents on a global stage,” said Idris Olorunnimbe, The Temple Company’s group chief executive. “We’re particularly thrilled about D’Banj’s upcoming album, Entertainer–The Sequel, which we believe will be a gamechanger in demonstrating the universal appeal of African music. Together with gamma, we’re committed to nurturing and promoting the incredible talent that Nigeria has to offer, and we’re confident that this partnership will play a crucial role in shaping the future of African music on the world stage.”

Gamma will also celebrate East Africa’s rich musical heritage through its partnership with Nairobi, Kenya-based Sol Generation Publishing and Distribution, the music publishing and distribution arm of award-winning Afropop group Sauti Sol.

LPME Records is committed to producing music that inspires unity and celebrates cultural diversity and establishing Dubai, UAE, as a musical creative hub. The labels currently represents three dynamic artists: the label’s first signee Dawda, a Gambian-Estonian star who blends Afrobeats, hip-hop, R&B and pop and has written and produced for Britney Spears, Akon, Oxlade and Snoh Aalegra; Yasmina, a Tajikistani artst who’s known for her unique fusion of Arabic and pop music; and Alya, an Emirati-British singer/songwriter/dancer/actress who draws inspiration from soul, jazz, R&B, hip-hop, amapiano and Afrobeats. Additional signings will be announced later this summer.

The state-of-the-art LPME Studios is reputable for having top-class sound quality and being a creative hub fostering musical innovation. The facility includes six production rooms, two Dolby Atmos rooms, a main stereo room, live band and vocal rooms and more. Artists like J Balvin and Jason Derulo as well as Grammy-winning engineer Tony Maserati have previously worked there.

“We are incredibly excited to enter into this partnership with gamma. This collaboration represents a significant step forward in our mission to share the rich and diverse sounds of our artists with a global audience,” added Moh Denebi, LPME Records’ label manager and producer. “Together with gamma, we are confident in our ability to elevate our artists’ reach and impact, bringing fresh, innovative music to listeners around the world.”

Dennis Quaid Gets Emotional When Remembering Working With 2Pac on ‘Gang Related’

Dennis Quaid appeared on the PBD Podcast and talked about the time he starred opposite 2Pac, James Belushi and James Earl Jones in the 1997 movie Gang Related.

“That was so great,” the actor said of working with the rapper. “I was kinda familiar with 2Pac when we did that movie. We both loved Chinese food, it turns out. So, he and I would be in the trailer, like, every day. We had Chinese food five days in a row.”

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“At the time, I really didn’t know much about who he was,” Quaid continued. “I knew who he was, but it’s like we got in there and we talked about acting, we talked about growing up, we talked about our mothers. He had such a great heart. He was such a talented actor too and he had a thirst to learn.”

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“I didn’t know he was a poet, really, because that’s what he was. He told the story of how they tried to kill him before in New York, and it was hysterical the way he told it, but it was, like, for real. Then six months later he got killed,” he shared as his emotions started to get the best of him. “That one really hit me hard. It really did.”

Quaid then highlighted how vulnerable Pac was, and how much he could’ve given to the world: “He had so much to give the world, he really did. He would’ve wound up being such a uniter of people.”

The actor later added, “He was just a human being. He was a kid and he was a vulnerable person. He wasn’t like this ‘gangster,’ this, or that, or the other. He had a poet’s heart … It was his vulnerability and he had this curiosity about other people, including me. You never put the two of us together, eating Chinese food in a trailer. But there we were.”

Gang Related was one of several movies released posthumously after 2Pac’s September 1996 death; Gridlock’d, in which he starred alongside Tim Roth, arrived in January 1997.

Watch Quaid discuss the late rapper on the PBD Podcast below:



$1M Worth Of Cocaine Washed Up On Florida Beach Due To Hurricane Debby

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US Border Patrol cocaine find

Source: @USBPChiefMIP / Twitter

As homeowners in Florida deal with the structural and property damage inflicted by Hurricane Debby, some of its residents might want to check their re-up supply as 70 pounds of cocaine has washed up on the shores of the Florida Keys, reportedly

According to Raw Story the surprise find happened this past Monday, August 5, after the Category 1 hurricane pounded the Sunshine State with rain and high winds—and evidently broke open someone’s supply stash somewhere and let 25 tightly wrapped packages of nose candy out into the ocean, which ultimately led to it washing up on a beach.

Interestingly enough, the person who found the packages notified the authorities instead of rounding them up and becoming the new plug on the block. He obviously was not about that life whatsoever. We would’ve at least sent a wire to Rick Ross or something, allegedly. This is sarcasm.

U.S. Border Patrol acting chief patrol Agent Samuel Briggs II confirmed the wild find on X.

Raw Story reports:

The load of drugs, which Briggs reported was valued at more than $1 million, was discovered by a good Samaritan who contacted the authorities.

In July of 2023, the mayor of Tampa, Florida similarly discovered 70 pounds (31.7 kilograms) of cocaine that had been washed ashore in the Florida Keys, while enjoying a vacation day.

In addition to bringing cocaine, Debby has killed one person, knocked out power for hundreds of thousands of people, and could produce life-threatening storm surges as well as catastrophic flooding.

A million dollars worth of a cocaine. Someone could’ve moved it for half of that and been set for life. Just sayin’.

With news of this incredible find, don’t be surprised if you see a bunch of people with SUV’s parked near beaches for “no reason” next time another hurricane hits Florida. Could be a life-changing moment for someone.

What do y’all think of this? Would you have done the same or used those packages to become the new plug in town? Let us know in the comments section below.