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11 Jun 2024

The Enduring Influence of Black Musicians on Boston’s Music Scene 

Black musicians have played a pivotal role in shaping the eclectic Boston music scene over the years, leaving an undeniable mark on the city’s cultural landscape. From jazz to funk, hip-hop to soul, and everywhere in between, their contributions have been instrumental in defining the sound and spirit of Boston’s music scene. 

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One of the most significant chapters in Boston’s musical history was the emergence of jazz in the early 20th century, where black musicians were at the forefront. Wally’s Café Jazz Club in the South End became synonymous with jazz movement for music lovers in Boston. 

The iconic venue quickly became a platform where both local artists and touring musicians could showcase their skills. Legendary jazz musicians like Duke Ellington, Billie Holiday, and Charlie Parker graced Boston stages throughout the 1900s.

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As decades passed, the influence of black musicians in Boston expanded beyond jazz. During the ‘60s and ‘70s, the city witnessed the rise of funk, disco, and soul. 

Donned the “Queen of Disco” early in her career, Boston native Donna Summer established herself as one of the most impactful musicians from the area. During the 1970’s alone, she topped the Billboard Club Cchart eleven times after releasing classic tracks like “Hot Stuff,” “Love to Love You Baby,” and “MacArthur Park.”

Bell Biv DeVoe is an R&B ensemble from Boston, Massachusetts. As individual members of New Edition launched their own careers, Bell Biv Devoe decided to continue as a trio. They released their debut album Poison in 1990 which debuted on the Billboard Hot 200 Album Chart. That same summer, the single “Poison” peaked at #3 on the Billboard Hot 100. 

Recently, hip-hop has emerged as a dominant force in Boston’s music scene, with black artists at the forefront of the movement. Acts like Guru, Cousin Stizz, and Van Buren Records have worked tirelessly over the last 20 years to establish a regional sound in the city.

Boston bred rapper Cousin Stizz made his mainstream debut after the release of his mixtape Suffolk County, earning over 12 million streams on SoundCloud alone. His first-ever Billboard chart appearance came from the 2017 single “Cousin Stizz.” 

The rise of black hip-hop artists serves as a voice for the underrepresented black & brown communities in Boston. Many Hip-Hop artists in Boston have been using their voices as a catalyst for social change, inspiring a new generation of artists to push boundaries and challenge the status quo. 

The influence of black musicians on the Boston music scene cannot be overstated. Their creativity, innovation, and resilience have enriched the city’s cultural fabric, shaping its identity as a hub of musical excellence and diversity. As Boston continues to evolve, the legacy of these  artists will continue to be celebrated, inspiring future generations to keep the pride of Boston’s music scene alive. 

11 Jun 2024

The Best Lines From Big Body Bes’ New Video ‘Survivor’

There’s a lot that goes on in a Big Body Bes video.

He might be posted up in his favorite bodega drinking an ice cold Country Club, curling an EZ bar dipped in flames, or breaking bread at a cuchifrito. One thing is for certain, though, he’s going to be outside with the back block movers and shakers.

In “Survivor” — the latest installment of his Body Language series — Bes can be seen running around Brooklyn wearing various Coogi sweaters and lining himself up with a Fila razorblade, all while dropping jewels for us to pick up off the ground and take home.

And he’s doing so over some of the best beats money can buy: This particular track is produced by Kenny Beats, a.k.a. Cadillac Kenny, as Big Bimmer Body so eloquently referred to the producer out of Connecticut. Body last dropped a song in November called “Drug Money” which was produced by London’s Budgie Beats, and the one prior to that (“Sunsets in the East“) was produced by The Alchemist.

The streets have been waiting for the Fordham Road Ferragamo to finally drop the long-awaited spoken-word rap album Body Language. He’s been teasing the project for a minute now, but at least he’s still releasing street philosophy anthems like this one. We might need the Bootleg Man to make a comeback at this point, though, because this is barbershop music. This is the type of rap only available on a burnt CD from the inside of a bookbag.

We felt so inspired listening to “Survivor,” we decided to pick out the best lines. Check ’em out below.

11 Jun 2024

Rihanna Clarifies She’s Not Retired & Is ‘Starting Over’ on ‘R9’

Rihanna isn’t done with music just yet. The Navy can exhale after Ri clarified that her recent “I’m Retired” shirt was just a fashion statement looking into the future and had nothing to do with the present day.

The nine-time Grammy w inner caught up with Extra on the red carpet for her Fenty Hair launch event in L.A. on Monday evening (June 10), where she explained she’s not hanging up her mic for good just yet.

“That was just me looking into the future. I’m not retired. I just like that dress. I got it as a gift and I loved it,” she said. “They didn’t read the second line, I’m not retired, I’m just retired from dressing up — it’s a lot of effort.”

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Fans desperate for any sort of positive developments on the R9 front can take solace in the fact Ri revealed she’s starting over with the elusive album, and the beauty mogul’s “prepared” to get back in the studio with her newfound perspective.

“Yeah, I’m starting over,” RiRi declared to Entertainment Tonight. “But I don’t want to neglect the songs that I have, so I actually want to go back and listen to stuff with new ears, with my new perspective and then see what applies and what I’m still in love with.”

The 36-year-old continued: “I think that music, for me, is a new discovery. I’m rediscovering things. I have been working on the album for so long that I kinda put all that stuff aside and now I’m prepared to go back in the studio. I’m gonna start — give me a second!”

Rihanna’s last album, Anti, turned eight years old in January after arriving in 2016. The project reached No. 1 on the Billboard 200 in its second week on the chart, with 166,000 units earned in the U.S. in the week ending Feb. 4, 2016, according to Nielsen Music.

Watch Rihanna’s interview with ET touching on her much-debated shirt and upcoming album below.



11 Jun 2024

Spotify Plans High-End Tier for Audiophiles: Report

Spotify will introduce a new tier later this year for users who want high-fidelity audio and access to additional playlisting tools, Bloomberg reports. Those extra features will come at a cost: At least $5 extra per month, according to Bloomberg.

This follows the streamer’s June announcement that the cost of Spotify’s premium individual and duo plans in the U.S. will both increase a dollar (to $11.99 a month and $16.99 a month, respectively). In addition, the family plan will jump $3 ($19.99 a month).

In a statement, a representative for Spotify said the platform is “constantly exploring ideas to improve our product offering and offer value to users.” “We don’t comment on speculation around possible new features,” the rep added, “and do not have anything new to share at this time.”

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For years now, music consumption has been based on a one-size-fits-all model: Listeners pay a fixed price and get access to everything. This approach is increasingly under attack, because it limits the amount of money that rightsholders can earn from the biggest music fans. Artists, labels, and streaming services believe they are leaving money on the table. 

Tapping that pool of cash might help counter the slowing growth of streaming in major markets that are nearing subscription saturation. The U.S., a country of 127 million households, now has a 12-month average of 96.8 million on-demand subscriptions. Labels rely heavily on new subscriptions to grow revenue: Paid subscriptions accounted for 79.4% of that growth in 2023. In contrast, ad-supported streaming accounted for only 4.6% of annual growth. 

In this climate, rightsholders are trying to figure out how to allow “passionate fans to self-select into pricier options,” as former Spotify chief economist Will Page wrote earlier this year.

11 Jun 2024

Ariana Grande Has a ‘Wicked’ Reaction to Chappell Roan’s Statue of Liberty Costume

Ariana Grande is officially a member of the Pink Pony Club. After Chappell Roan took the stage at New York City’s 2024 Gov Ball with her skin painted green in a full Statue of Liberty look, the 26-year-old musician inspired a litany of memes, including several referencing the upcoming Wicked films — which the franchise’s star later used as an opportunity to share her love for Roan.

On Monday (June 10), one day after the “Good Luck, Babe!” artist’s festival set, Grande shared a meme that replaced Cynthia Erivo’s Elphaba with a photo of Roan — similarly jade-skinned as she performs on stage — in a scene from the Wicked trailer. “You’re green!” exclaims the R.E.M. Beauty founder’s character Glinda in the shot, to which the Wicked Witch/Roan simply says, “I am.”

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“I really ♡ @chappellroan,” Grande captioned the meme on her Instagram Story.

The “Thank U, Next” singer wasn’t the only one who loved Roan’s Gov Ball set. The “Red Wine Supernova” artist set the internet ablaze with her creative Lady Liberty look, as well as her live debut of an unreleased song titled “Subway” and her revelation that she turned down the White House’s invitation to perform for Pride this year.

“We want liberty, freedom and justice for all,” Roan said during her set, staring directly into the festival’s cameras before dedicating “My Kink Is Karma” to the Biden Administration. “When you do that, that’s when I’ll come.”

Still months away from the Thanksgiving premiere of the first Wicked film, Grande dropped the music video for “The Boy Is Mine” Friday (June 7). A few days later, she shared a clip of her doing her own makeup for the visual using products from her R.E.M. Beauty line.

In the clip, Grande also spoke about the characters she’s created as part of her Eternal Sunshine universe. In the “We Can’t Be Friends” music video, for instance, she played Peaches, a likeness inspired by Kate Winslet’s Clementine in Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind.

In “Boy Is Mine,” Peaches appears once again — but this time, she transforms herself into a Catwoman-esque femme fatale in an attempt to seduce Penn Badgley’s character in the video. “When your alter-ego has its own alter-ego, that’s when you know it’s time to see a therapist,” Grande quipped in her makeup tutorial.

Watch below.

11 Jun 2024

Tory Lanez’s Wife Raina Chassagne Files for Divorce After Less Than a Year of Marriage

Tory Lanez has suffered another loss from behind bars. Raina Chassagne, the Canadian singer’s wife, has filed for divorce after less than a year of marriage.

Per court documents obtained by Billboard, Chassagne filed for divorce from Lanez — born Daystar Peterson — cited irreconcilable differences for the split. She and the incarcerated artist tied the knot on June 25, 2023, prior to his sentencing, and she listed the date of their separation as June 1, 2024.

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Lanez and Chassagne share a 7-year-old daughter; Chassagne is asking for legal as well as physical custody of their daughter, with visitation time for Lanez.

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In the docs, Chassagne indicated that there are no “assets or debts” to be divided, and is reserving spousal support determination for the future, though she is not asking for it now.

Billboard has reached out to Tory Lanez’s attorney.

Lanez has spent the last few years tied up in legal issues related to the 2020 shooting of Megan Thee Stallion outside a Hollywood Hills pool party. According to prosecutors, the “Hiss” rapper got out of the car during an argument and began walking away when Lanez shouted, “Dance, b—h!” He then proceeded to shoot at her feet.

Lanez was convicted in December 2022 on three felonies (assault with a firearm; carrying a loaded, unregistered firearm in a vehicle and discharging a firearm with gross negligence). The “Say It” singer was ultimately sentenced to 10 years behind bars last August.

11 Jun 2024

Popular Reggaeton Artist Dr. Velásquez Murdered In Colombia Home

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Dr. Velasquez

Source: @drvelasquez / Instagram

Tragic news is coming out of Colombia as well-known Reggaeton artist/manager Dr. Velásquez, was found murdered in his home earlier this week.

According to Digital Music News, Velásquez and his girlfriend, Sofia Valdez, were found shot to death in his home in Envigado, outside of Medellín, Colombia, this past Saturday (June 8). The sad news was announced by Velásquez’s record label, JMW Music, which put out a statement on social media informing his fans of the tragic news.

“With deep pain, we inform you of the death of Dr. Velásquez, renowned singer, composer, manager, businessman, and paisa [Medellín native] dreamer,” reads the statement written in Spanish. “Dr. Velásquez was a pioneer in the Medellín music scene, being the founder of the largest and first reggaeton hubs in our city. His legacy and passion for music left an indelible mark on the industry and in the hearts of those who knew him.”

“In this moment of pain, we ask for prudence and respect for his family, friends, and colleagues. We appreciate your understanding and support in these difficult times. We join in prayer for his eternal rest and solidarity with all those who feel his departure.”

While the motive behind Velásquez‘s murder is still unknown, authorities already have a person of interest in cuffs.

Digital Music News reports:

The label clarified in a separate statement that although the facts surrounding his death are being investigated, “the judicial authorities have ruled out suicide among the hypotheses. Thanks to the quick and efficient action of the authorities, the main suspect in the double homicide is already in custody.”

Velásquez, whose real name was Daniel Alejandro Velásquez Franco, enjoyed a solo singing career from 2014 to 2018, but he is better known for having propelled the music careers of many Colombian urban artists, including Reykon, Maluma, and J Balvin. He discovered Blessd in 2019 and signed him to his home label of JMW Music.

Some of the artists Dr. Velásquez has worked with include J Balvin, Blessd and Maluma, among many others.

Rest In Power, Dr. Velásquez.

11 Jun 2024

Popular Reggaeton Artist Dr. Velásquez Murdered In Colombia Home

HipHopWired Featured Video

Dr. Velasquez

Source: @drvelasquez / Instagram

Tragic news is coming out of Colombia as well-known Reggaeton artist/manager Dr. Velásquez, was found murdered in his home earlier this week.

According to Digital Music News, Velásquez and his girlfriend, Sofia Valdez, were found shot to death in his home in Envigado, outside of Medellín, Colombia, this past Saturday (June 8). The sad news was announced by Velásquez’s record label, JMW Music, which put out a statement on social media informing his fans of the tragic news.

“With deep pain, we inform you of the death of Dr. Velásquez, renowned singer, composer, manager, businessman, and paisa [Medellín native] dreamer,” reads the statement written in Spanish. “Dr. Velásquez was a pioneer in the Medellín music scene, being the founder of the largest and first reggaeton hubs in our city. His legacy and passion for music left an indelible mark on the industry and in the hearts of those who knew him.”

“In this moment of pain, we ask for prudence and respect for his family, friends, and colleagues. We appreciate your understanding and support in these difficult times. We join in prayer for his eternal rest and solidarity with all those who feel his departure.”

While the motive behind Velásquez‘s murder is still unknown, authorities already have a person of interest in cuffs.

Digital Music News reports:

The label clarified in a separate statement that although the facts surrounding his death are being investigated, “the judicial authorities have ruled out suicide among the hypotheses. Thanks to the quick and efficient action of the authorities, the main suspect in the double homicide is already in custody.”

Velásquez, whose real name was Daniel Alejandro Velásquez Franco, enjoyed a solo singing career from 2014 to 2018, but he is better known for having propelled the music careers of many Colombian urban artists, including Reykon, Maluma, and J Balvin. He discovered Blessd in 2019 and signed him to his home label of JMW Music.

Some of the artists Dr. Velásquez has worked with include J Balvin, Blessd and Maluma, among many others.

Rest In Power, Dr. Velásquez.

11 Jun 2024

Natalia Lafourcade Signs With UTA for Worldwide Representation In All Areas

Natalia Lafourcade has signed with UTA for worldwide representation in all areas, Billboard can exclusively announce.

The signing follows the Mexican artist’s latest Grammy win for De Todas Las Flores, which won best Latin rock or alternative album. The critically-acclaimed set also collected three awards at the Latin Grammys last year, including best singer-songwriter album. In total, Lafourcade has earned 17 Latin Grammy Awards, making her the most awarded female artist in the history of the Latin Recording Academy. She has also received four Grammy Awards throughout her career.

Following the release of her award-winning album, Lafourcade embarked on a global tour including stops in the U.S. where she toured across the country performing at Carnegie Hall in New York, alongside featured guests David Byrne, Jorge Drexler and Omara Portundo. De Todas Las Flores was also accompanied by a book and podcast release. This fall, Lafourcade is set to launch a special series of shows with Gustavo Dudamel and the Los Angeles Philharmonic for two nights at the Hollywood Bowl, as well as a highly anticipated return to Carnegie Hall in October.

Over a span of two decades, the singer-songwriter and producer has released nine albums including Hasta La Raíz (2015), which scored the singer-songwriter and producer her first top 10 on Billboard‘s Top Latin Albums chart where it peaked at No. 8, and her breakthrough self-titled solo album that included the coming-of-age pop anthem “En El 2000.”

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Lafourcade will continue to be managed by Juan Pablo López-Fonseca and Margarita Bruzzone.

11 Jun 2024

SEVENTEEN Named First-Ever UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador For Youth

SEVENTEEN can add another honor to their long list of accomplishments after UNESCO announced on Tuesday (June 11) that the 13-man South Korean band will be appointed as the international group’s Goodwill Ambassador for Youth by UNESCO general director Audrey Azoulay at a June 26 ceremony at the organization’s Paris headquarters.

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“SEVENTEEN and UNESCO share the same commitment to empowering young people to drive change and address the challenges of our century. They continue to inspire and support young people around the world with their music and positive energy,” Azoulay said in a statement. “Following several successful joint actions, I wanted our partnership to take on even greater strategic importance. On June 26, I will be delighted to welcome the 13 members of the group into the family of UNESCO Goodwill Ambassadors.”

The appointment comes after SEVENTEEN participated in the 13th UNESCO Youth Forum in Paris in November, where they talked about the importance of young people pursuing their dreams at the first-ever session at the forum dedicated to a musical artist. More than 1,300 people from 194 member states attended that event, including 170 youth delegates. UNESCO — short for the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization — is a specialized United Nations agency that works to promote, “world peace and security through international cooperation in education, arts, sciences and culture.”

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In addition to their speech about positivity and hope, the group also performed a medley of their hits, including “_WORLD,” “Darl+ing,” “Headliner,” “God of Music” and “Together.”

In 2022, SEVENTEEN also launched the #GoingTogether initiative with the Korean National Commission for UNESCO, establishing new educational centers in Timor-Leste and educational aid to Malawi. According to the statement, by working as Goodwill Ambassador For Youth, the group will commit to “putting their talent and voice at the service of the Organization’s values and mandate.”

At the June 26 ceremony, the group will unveil their SEVENTEEN x UNESCO partnership, which will be dedicated to supporting youth projects around the globe. The ceremony will be livestreamed on UNESCO’s YouTube channel.

Check out a teaser for the June 26 UNESCO event below.