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07 Jun 2024

ATARASHII GAKKO! Shares New ‘Fly High’ Music Video Featuring Hyper-Muscular Members: Watch

ATARASHII GAKKO! dropped its new music video accompanying “Fly High,” a track off the four-member group’s first full album in five years entitled AG! Calling.

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The first song on the group’s third full-length project released June 7, “Fly High” is being featured as the opening theme song of the recently released animated Netflix movie Hanma Baki VS Kengan Ashura. The four women perform their latest dance moves in a boxing ring in this new video, and hyper-muscular versions of the members transformed through hard training in the gym also appear.

AG! Calling consists of 11 tracks co-written by Japanese and American producers, including “Tokyo Calling,” which the group performed on Jimmy Kimmel Live!, and “Omakase” and “Arigato,” performed at this year’s Coachella.

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Watch the new video below:

07 Jun 2024

Watch RAYE Perform New Single ‘Genesis’ on an Active Train Station Platform

Raye likely brightened the days of many a commuter by performing her new song “Genesis” on an unconventional stage: a Selhurst train station platform.

In a video posted by the British pop star Thursday, shortly before the sprawling, seven-minute track dropped, Raye looks glamorous in a polka-dot gown while singing just a couple of feet away from the tracks. She’s accompanied by a dapper-looking jazz band that continues playing even when a loud train whizzes past behind them.

“Genesis will be yours at midnight,” she captioned the clip.

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True to her word, the 26-year-old star dropped the track right on time Friday (June 7). It marks her first release since she made history at the 2024 Brits by breaking the record for most wins and nominations for an artist in a single year — winning six prizes from her seven nods. In addition to picking up the trophies for best new artist, best R&B act, British artist of the year and songwriter of the year, she was also awarded British album of the year for her debut record My 21st Century Blues, which reached No. 58 on the Billboard 200. 

Plus, Raye received song of the year for her 070 Shake-assisted “Escapism,” which peaked at No. 22 on the Billboard Hot 100 last year.

Fans in her comments section loved the London native’s innovative performance space, as did a few famous friends. SZA wrote adoringly under the train station video, “Everything about you,” while Leigh-Anne Pinnock added, “Epic.”

Raye previously described “Genesis” as “a 7 minute labour of love I have been working on since 2022.” “It kind of hurts a bit to call this piece of music a ‘single’ because it is so much more than just a song to me,” she continued in the May Instagram post. “I have chipped away at, scrutinised, replaced, redone, passionately sculpted this song.”

Watch Raye perform “Genesis” on a train station platform below.

07 Jun 2024

Queer Jams of the Week: New Music From Halsey, Kaytranada, Omar Apollo & More

Pride season is officially upon us, so grab your headphones and jam out to these new tunes from your favorite queer artists! Billboard Pride is proud to present the latest edition of Queer Jams of the Week, our roundup of some of the best new music releases from LGBTQ artists.

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From Halsey’s long-awaited new single to Kaytranada’s stunning new album, check out just a few of our favorite releases from this week below:

Halsey, “The End”



While Halsey has always had an aptitude for emotionally resonant songwriting, they managed to put something different in “The End.” On this stripped back acoustic single, Halsey lets the pain pour out of her, as her voices rises and falls with confessions about “poison in my blood” or that “once my God destroys the flesh, then there’s the flood.” As the singer continues to undergo serious medical treatment for their recently disclosed health issues, they’re not interested in just putting on a brave face — instead, they’d like you to see what that they’ve been dealing with.

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Kaytranada, Timeless



For any and all Pride parties you’re intending to go to this month, Kaytranada’s newest album is an instant must play. Living up to its title, Timeless doesn’t aim to emulate any one particular era or sound — it just wants to make you dance. Kaytranada’s unmatched production work pairs flawlessly with a parade of guest stars including Childish Gambino (“Witchy”), Don Tolliver (“Feel a Way”) and Tinashe (“More Than a Little Bit”), making this new album the perfect party soundtrack.

Omar Apollo, “Less of You”



Where his last few releases have seen Omar Apollo embracing slow jams, “Less of You” sees the singer ready to hit the dancefloor. With an electronic-tinged beat and some lightly vocoded vocals, “Less of You” follows Apollo through a lovesick night out, as he yearns for the lover that might have left him the night before. “I’m seein’ less of you/ I’m still undressing you,” he croons on the chorus. “Am I depressing you?/ Felt like a blessin’, you.”

Orville Peck, Kylie Minogue & Diplo, “Midnight Ride”



What if Cowboy Carter and Renaissance were to have a baby? That’s a question that Orville Peck seeks to answer with a little help from Kylie Minogue and Diplo on “Midnight Ride,” their delectable new disco-meets-house-meets-country collaboration. Between Peck’s smoky baritone, Minogue’s unbridled energy and Diplo’s frenetic production, “Midnight Ride” immediately stands out as a must listen.

Doechii, “MPH”



After she turned up the heat with her club track “Alter Ego” earlier this year, Doechii decided to keep the energy up with her newest release. “MPH” puts the pedal to the metal right out of the gate, as Doechii spits out rapid-fire bars flexing her status as one of the hottest up-and-coming names in hip-hop. Add in some slick production and the coven leader’s uniquely unbothered attitude, and you’ve got yet another Doechii banger on your hands.

Soccer Mommy, “Lost”



With her first single since 2022′ Sometimes, Forever, Soccer Mommy would like to sing about grief. “Lost” never dives into particulars — only ever referring back to “her” — but it’s mood, atmosphere and tone all sound as though they were crafted with nothing but specificity in mind. Sophie Allison’s voice has never sounded more crystalline than it does on this heartbreaking, deeply moving new song.

Check out all of our picks on Billboard Queer Jams of the Week playlist below:

07 Jun 2024

In Canada: Streamers Must Pay Portion of Revenue Into Canadian Content Funds, Government Says

The Canadian government has made a major announcement about the implementation of the Online Streaming Act, with implications for artists and music companies at home and abroad.

The CRTC (Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission) has revealed that foreign streaming services with significant revenues will have to make base contributions to Canadian content. Streaming companies with no affiliation to Canadian broadcasters and over $25 million in annual contributions revenues will have to pay 5% of those revenues into specified funds.

Those contributions will be used to boost Canadian content in the music, news and film industries, generating an estimated $200 million in increased funding altogether.

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The decision comes after a consultation process that included public hearings last fall, as well as over 360 written submissions.

The government specified that these contributions will go towards “areas of immediate need,” prioritizing already existing funds in order to expedite the delivery process. Those funds include FACTOR and Musicaction, which industry groups like CIMA and the Canadian Live Music Association say are in need of increased funding. 

The Beaches Awarded Group of the Year at Billboard Canada Women in Music Launch Announcement

Billboard Canada and iHeartRadio teamed up to present a big award to a major Canadian group this week.

The Beaches received the first-ever Billboard Canada Women in Music Award for Group of the Year on Wednesday (June 5), honoring the Toronto quartet’s breakout year. The band was on hand for the announcement of Billboard Canada‘s Women in Music celebration event, which is officially set for September 7, 2024.

The band was presented with the award by Billboard Canada CEO Amanda Dorenberg and CCO Elizabeth Crisante. At the event, more Canadian artists (including a few legends of the industry) will be recognized and honored for their artistry and blazing trails as women in the industry.

Receiving the award as part of a livestream performance on iHeartRadio’s YouTube, The Beaches played a stripped-back set of three songs from their hit 2023 album, Blame My Ex. The acoustic set saw drummer Eliza Enman McDaniel with just a shaker, leaving space for Jordan Miller’s powerful lead vocal and light harmonies by guitarists Leandra Earl and Kylie Miller.

After the performance, iHeartRadio’s Shannon Burns did a Q&A with the group, joking about playing pool with them and asking them audience-submitted questions. The band talked about their experiences as women in the music industry, providing some advice for up-and-coming female artists.

“Make sure you do it with your friends,” McDaniel said. The group spoke about how isolating it can be to be a woman in a still-male-dominated — though gradually changing — industry. It’s important to be surrounded by women you trust, they emphasized, whether in your band or on your team.

Watch the full performance and announcement here.

Lowell Wins the First Billboard Canada Non-Performing Songwriter Award

Lowell has won the first Billboard Canada Non-Performing Songwriter Award (presented by SOCAN), which honors a Canadian songwriter making a big impact behind the scenes.

The win was announced at Billboard Canada‘s Power Players event on Sunday (June 2) at the CN Tower. The award was presented to Lowell (Elizabeth Lowell Boland) by SOCAN CEO Jennifer Brown and vp of creative and member relations Cameron Kennedy.

“Songwriters have it really tough,” Lowell said while accepting the award. “We make no money, and then we very silently make other people really famous and then just cry about it at night because no one loves us,” she joked.

“So it’s really nice that you guys are giving me a little pat on the back — I’m going to take this on behalf of all of my amazing songwriter friends that have not gotten that pat on the back, yet.”

Lowell, who has also released music under the same name, was one of five finalists for the inaugural edition of the award — the first in Canada recognizing songwriters’ work for other artists. Other shortlisted writers included Tobias Jesso Jr., Jeremy Fedryk, Ali Willa Milner and Aaron Paris — an extremely strong initial shortlist featuring a crop of writers responsible for songs that garnered Grammy nominations, top chart placements and millions of streams.

Lowell has had a major year, including co-writing credits on “Texas Hold ‘Em” and “Bodyguard,” two of the biggest hits on one the year’s biggest albums, Beyoncé‘s Cowboy Carter. The award considered songs from 2023 before Cowboy Carter was released, but beyond Beyoncé, Lowell has shown a unique ability to help artists break through to a new level.

Lowell additionally co-wrote and co-produced Blame My Ex, the breakthrough album from Toronto band The Beaches, including the Lowell-penned hit “Blame Brett,” which held No. 1 at alternative radio for 17 weeks and is rising at U.S. and Canadian Top 40. She’s also a close collaborator of Lu Kala, the Congolese-Canadian artist who made her Hot 100 debut this past year, co-writing Kala’s emotional ballad “Nothing But Love.”

In her acceptance speech, Lowell highlighted the importance of supporting Canadian talent.

“Some people think I live in L.A. but I don’t, I live in Toronto,” she said, addressing the room full of powerful and influential members of the Canadian music industry. “I like to find talent here, I like to see who L.A. is not looking for and what the world needs, and that’s a lot of people that are here either in this room or working with people in this room. […] My goal is to largely not ignore the real talent which is in this f—ing city,” she continued to a round of cheers.

07 Jun 2024

Kevin Jonas’ 10-Year-Old Daughter Dresses Up Like Her Dad & Totally Nails It

Kevin Jonas‘ family took the phrase “like father, like daughter” to a whole new level recently. On Thursday, the 36-year-old guitarist shared a hilarious Instagram photo of his oldest daughter, Alena, dressed up as her favorite New Jersey icon: Him.

The snap shows a side-by-side comparison of Kevin and Alena, with a 2023 photo of the Jonas Brothers band member visiting Yankee Stadium with his brothers on the left. On the right, the 10-year-old matches his outfit perfectly, sporting a denim jacket, a white collared shirt and jeans.

Smiling proudly into the camera, Alena also sported a dark curly wig to match her father’s ‘fro. “When your daughter dresses up as you for New Jersey day,” Kevin captioned the post.

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The “Sucker” musician shares Alena with his wife and Married to Jonas costar, Danielle. The couple also shares seven-year-old Valentina.

The Jo Bros are currently on break from their world tour in support of The Album, which the band released last year. The project peaked at No. 3 on the Billboard 200.

The trek will pick up in August with a string of shows in Mexico before the trio — which is also comprised of Joe and Nick Jonas — heads overseas for a European leg. In March, the brothers performed a record-breaking concert at the Houston Rodeo, after which Kevin shared photos of him and Alena enjoying the event on Instagram.

“I feel so lucky to have performed at the @rodeohouston for the second time last night because this round I got to bring my baby girl,” he wrote at the time. “AND @jonasbrothers now holds the all-time paid new stadium attendance record with 75,600 tickets sold ❤️ Thank you Houston for an unforgettable night!!”

07 Jun 2024

Linda Perry Performs a Rare, Riveting Set Following Tribeca Premiere of Emotionally Raw New Documentary

As someone who’s achieved massive success on their own terms as a singer-songwriter (the 1993 single “What’s Up?” from her band 4 Non Blondes hit No. 14 on the Billboard Hot 100 and has 1.7 billion views to date on YouTube) and written a cornucopia of hits for other artists (P!nk, Christina Aguilera, Gwen Stefani, Alicia Keys), Linda Perry seems like someone who must have it all figured out. And while she’s certainly managed a lengthy, impressive career in the fickle music business on her own terms (her guitar at the 1993 Billboard Music Awards proudly displayed the word “d-ke” at a time when few women were out and proud), a new documentary reveals the tormented human behind the edgy, imposing exterior.

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Linda Perry: Let It Die Here, directed by Don Hardy, premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival on Thursday (June 6) and offers a compelling portrait of an artist who can’t stop searching and reaching, but is never quite sure what for. While Perry is full of uncertainty and self-laceration, talking heads such as Brandi Carlile, Christina Aguilera and Dolly Parton offer a far more positive (and accurate) summation of her substantial talents.

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Following the riveting film, Perry and a full backing band took the stage for a rare live performance of several of the songs featured in the film. The new material demonstrates her uncanny songcraft and distinctive creative voice (abetted by her demanding work ethic) hasn’t diminished one iota since she blew up on the national stage more than 30 years ago and then promptly backed out of the spotlight. Marvelous new song “Feathers” is a heady blend of soul, alt-rock and Americana, “Let It Die Here” is worthy of Oscar consideration and “Beautiful” (made famous by Aguilera) was a treat to hear sung by the woman who wrote it.

Between songs, she thanked the filmmakers and opened up a bit about the emotionally raw film, including one scene where she dances while sobbing and reflecting on her life. “Sometimes [the creative process] can get the best of me as you witnessed for a whole hour and thirty minutes of how I can spiral because simply I don’t believe in myself,” Perry said. “It’s a wonderful thing to know that something that I say, something that I write, something that I do might matter.”

With characteristic candor (and a bit of a laugh), she admitted that “the closet seen is beyond embarrassing to me, but I feel for her, that girl on that screen during that time. I just wanted to give her a hug and say, ‘Jesus, chill out.’”

Toward the end of her eight-song set, Perry’s child, Rhodes (whom she shares with ex-wife Sara Gilbert), presented her with a bouquet of flowers. Perry kept Rhodes with her on stage for the final two tunes, including the requisite “What’s Up?” finale, even giving her kid the mic to belt a bit of the anthemic tune (to be honest, her child fared better than a few of the folks from the audience she invited onstage to sing).

While Perry keeps plenty busy — she worked on projects from Ringo Starr (Crooked Boy) and Kate Hudson (Glorious) this year already — the documentary and her live set makes one hope that the singer-songwriter gives equal footing to both of those nouns in the near future. It’s been far too long she’s since Linda Perry has written songs for Linda Perry, and it’s clear that she has plenty left to say.

07 Jun 2024

What Are Live Nation and Ticketmaster Worth if Broken Up?

Equity analysts aren’t convinced the U.S. Department of Justice will accomplish its larger goal of separating Live Nation’s concert promotion and ticketing businesses, thereby undoing the controversial merger it allowed in 2010. But if Live Nation and Ticketmaster were to become separate companies, analysts estimate the combined companies would be worth from $85 to $96 per share, based on a handful of reports Billboard has seen.

Live Nation shares were trading around $101 to $102 the day before the lawsuit was announced on May 23. But shares have since traded in the $93 to $94 range, putting the current price at the upper end of analysts’ “sum of the parts” (SOTP) valuations. In the wake of the lawsuit, some analysts have lowered their price targets for Live Nation, and S&P Global downgraded its rating on Live Nation’s debt.  

Any good merger creates value greater than the sum of the parts. Live Nation’s business model is a “flywheel” in which one segment (such as concerts) generates value for other segments (ticketing or sponsorship and advertisements). To the company, the flywheel is the result of hard-won competitive advantages built over the past 14 years. To the DOJ, the flywheel represents Live Nation’s ability to use its dominant market position to its advantage in anti-competitive ways.  

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Breaking up Live Nation would eliminate the synergies that create value for the combined company. What is currently one stock would become two stocks of two separate companies with different management teams. Live Nation shareholders would likely get ownership in the new, standalone Ticketmaster. Analysts have calculated the value of Live Nation and Ticketmaster using a SOTP approach that combines the value of the business segments as if they were standalone companies. 

But analysts have serious doubts the DOJ will succeed in breaking up the company. “Federal Judges…are generally pro-business and we doubt — at least based on [the DOJ’s 128-page] summary — the case is strong enough to either break up Live Nation or for the DOJ to win the lawsuit,” wrote Huber Research analyst Doug Arthur in a Thursday (June 6) note to investors. Similarly, J.P. Morgan sees “a real possibility that [Live Nation] comes out of this a winner” and fends off the DOJ’s ultimate goal of breaking up the company, analysts wrote in a May 29 note to investors. 

“The government’s burden is going to be pretty high,” Bill Morrison, partner at Haynes & Boone, tells Billboard. “It’s long been the case in antitrust jurisprudence that it’s not illegal to have a monopoly. What’s illegal is to use that monopoly power in an anti-competitive way. And so that would be the burden that the DOJ would have to prove, which is to show that Live Nation abused its monopoly power and it acted unreasonably to restrain trade to maintain its monopoly.”  

There could be outcomes other than a forced divestiture, however. Wolfe Research analysts note the “DOJ does not lose if it reached for the stars and landed on the moon,” they wrote in a May 23 note. “From that perspective, it is entirely possible the DOJ wants to get Live Nation/Ticketmaster to agree to remedies, such as eliminating exclusive ticketing deals, and is using the threat of a breakup to achieve those goals.” 

The very existence of the DOJ’s lawsuit has changed how investors will approach Live Nation. The health of the concert business and Live Nation’s strengths will be overshadowed by the pall cast by the DOJ. Northcoast Research downgraded Live Nation from “buy” to “neutral” because analysts believe the stock price will be based on legal news and the political environment rather than fundamentals and business performance. J.P. Morgan also noted a “sentiment overhang” related to the DOJ’s lawsuit and lowered its price target to $116 from $126, although it kept its recommendation at “overweight.”  

One variable that has largely gone unmentioned is the possible change in the administration at the White House. President Biden has taken an aggressive stance on protecting competition — the DOJ sank proposed mergers by Spirit-JetBlue and Penguin Random House-Simon & Schuster — reducing the fees consumers face everywhere from airlines to concert tickets, and criminally prosecuting companies over no-poaching rules and wage-fixing. A second Trump administration would bring an entirely new slate of appointments to head influential antitrust positions. “It depends on who is in those key [regulatory] spots, and then what the priorities are of those offices and the philosophy,” Morrison says. “We’ve seen big pivots in the past.” 

Live Nation did not immediately respond to a request for comment on this story.

07 Jun 2024

Sabrina Carpenter, Jung Kook, Raye & More Drop New Music | Billboard News

Sabrina Carpenter’s new single “Please, Please, Please” and its music video are out, Jung Kook drops “Never Let Go,” while Pitbull, Ne-Yo, Afrojack and DJ Buddha are going “2 the Moon” with their latest music and more!

Tetris Kelly: 
This week’s got so many hits, we’ve supersized your Friday Music Guide. Sabrina Carpenter recruits her boyfriend, Barry Keoghan, for “Please, Please, Please.” Raye’s new journey begins with “Genesis.” If you’re feeling nostalgic for 2011, Pitbull’s teamed back up with Ne-Yo and Afrojack for “2 the Moon.”

The girls are giving us new albums, like Tems’ Born In the Wild, Charlie XCX’s Brat, and I couldn’t be more excited for my girl, Meghan Trainor’s Timeless. And it doesn’t stop there. MGK is “BMXxing.” Jung Kook will “Never Let Go.”

What’s your favorite new release? Let us know in the comments, and for the full list, head to billboard.com.

07 Jun 2024

Cash Cobain Brings the ‘Bronx Whine’ Back in ‘Rump Punch’ Lyric Video: Watch

Fresh off his Billboard Hot 100 debut, Cash Cobain continues his hot streak with new song “Rump Punch” on Friday (June 7). Like most of his unreleased music, the snippet for this song has been driving up the hype on social media.

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Now, the New York City rapper and producer finally gave his fans what they wanted and dropped the whole song and it’s accompanied by a funny lyric video. Not only do we get Cash’s signature raunchy bars and vibey production, it looks like he’s trying to bring the “Bronx Whine” back with this one.

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For those that aren’t aware, the “Bronx Whine” was a popular dance back in the early 2010s. The dance had a song and even made the news. Recently, Chris Vivo — who helped make the dance go viral online back then — brought the dance back on TikTok much to the delight of his audience.

People are going to lose it once they see the “Bronx Whine” clips in this video — after clicking play, get ready to dust those hips off, grab your favorite person, and Bronx Whine the summer away to “Rump Punch” and the rest of Cash’s discography.

The rapper is having a crazy year, so far. We mentioned his first Hot 100 entry earlier, but he also has the “Fisherrr” remix with fellow New Yorker Ice Spice, recently dropped “Grippy” with J. Cole, and was our Rookie of the Month for April.

Watch Cash Cobain’s new lyric video for “Rump Punch” above.

07 Jun 2024

Man Who Broke Into Bun B’s Home Sentenced to 40 Years After Rapper Delivers Emotional Testimony

Bun B and his wife, Queenie (real name Angela Walls), were the victims of a 2019 armed home invasion. Five years after Demonte Jackson’s arrest, the then 20-year-old intruder has learned his fate: 40 years behind bars, according to Houston’s Fox 26 and CBS affiliate KHOU 11. The decision came Friday (June 7), one day after the musician’s testimony.

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The UGK rap legend — born Bernard Freeman — took the stand at Jackson’s sentencing hearing on Thursday (June 6), where he delivered a poignant testimony recounting the home invasion and detailed the emotional toll its taken on his family.

“There are times when [Queenie] gets closed off,” he said in court footage shared by Houston’s Fox 26. “She can’t communicate, and I just get so angry all over again because she didn’t deserve this. She didn’t ask for this.”

“Just the idea of seeing my wife in this state, hearing her voice in this state,” the artist said in court, per video shared by ABC news affiliate KTRK in Houston. “I mean I’m her husband, that’s my primary job, is protecting her, making her feel safe.”

The couple’s ordeal began in April 2019 when Queenie answered their Houston home’s front door expecting an Amazon delivery, but instead was faced with a masked armed robber. Jackson held a terrified Queenie at gunpoint and demanded valuables while she led him to the garage.

“I wanted to confront the person who put that fear in my wife’s voice,” Bun told the courtroom. “She was very panicked. She was borderline hysterical. She just did not want me to go out that door and face the person with the gun.”

Still, Bun B grabbed his firearm and headed to the garage where he found Jackson behind the wheel of his Audi, and the two exchanged gunfire.

The Trill OG rapper wounded Jackson — now 25 years old — with a shot in the shoulder. After a brief tussle, Jackson attempted to flee the scene on foot, but Bun caught and unmasked him so he could be identified, but the intruder eventually got away. After being treated at a local hospital for his injuries, police apprehended Jackson and he pleaded guilty in December 2019 to two counts of aggravated robbery and one count of burglary.

“I wanted to know who that was behind the mask,” the H-Town rapper explained in court. “I wanted to know if this was someone I knew personally or someone that knew someone I knew personally.”

Bun B also shared that the traumatizing incident still affects Queenie to this day. “She was broken. She was absolutely broken,” he added, according to ABC13. “My wife never stepped foot in that house again.”

Watch clips of Bun B’s testimony below.