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31 May 2024

Blake Lively Kisses Ryan Reynolds as Taylor Swift Performs ‘Lover’ at Madrid Eras Tour Show: Watch

Blake Lively and Ryan Reynolds, sitting in a tree … At Taylor Swift‘s Eras Tour concert in Madrid Thursday (May 30), the famous couple shared an adorable moment while watching the show from a VIP section on the stadium’s floor, where fan cameras captured them K-I-S-S-I-N-G during one of the pop star’s most lovey-dovey tracks.  

In grainy clips from the night, Swift sings the uber romantic title track of her Billboard 200-topping 2019 album Lover toward the beginning of her three-hour-plus set. While enjoying the music, the A Simple Favor star joins her husband in taking a selfie, with the 14-time Grammy winner’s stage in the background. 

The Deadpool actor then kisses Lively on the cheek before planting another smooch on her lips.  

Trending on Billboard

The couple also brought along their three daughters: James, Inez and Betty, aka the real-life namesakes of the characters Swift mentions in her Folklore track “Betty.” Other photos and videos from the concert show Lively passionately dancing along to the singer’s performance with her girls, as well as the Haim sisters and Paramore’s Hayley Williams, who opened for Swift earlier that night. 

The “Fortnight” singer, Lively and Reynolds have long been friends, with Swift even sampling little James’ voice at the beginning of her Reputation hit “Gorgeous” in 2017. The A-list couple also joined the musician at one of Travis Kelce’s Kansas City Chiefs games at MetLife Stadium in the fall. 

The Gossip Girl alum and Free Guy star are also parents to a fourth child, whose name has not yet been made public. Earlier this month, Reynolds joked on the Today show that they were “still waiting” for Swift to tell them what to name their new addition. 

See photos and videos of Lively and Reynolds smooching at Swift’s Eras Tour stop below. 

31 May 2024

NLE Choppa Talks Success of ‘Slut Me Out 2,’ the Impact of Diss Culture & More | Billboard News

After NLE Choppa’s success with “SLUT ME OUT 2” and “Stickin and Movin,” he shares how his artistry plays a significant role in everything he creates. He shares his perspective on the Kendrick Lamar vs. Drake feud, the importance of mental health and philanthropy in his life, balancing fatherhood and more!

NLE Choppa:
Yo, what’s up? It’s NLE Choppa and this is Billboard News. Tune in for the interview right now. Let’s do it.

Tetris Kelly:
It’s slut season, you declared it man.

NLE Choppa:
Yes, sir, the one in the flesh. 

Tetris Kelly: 
So listen, “Slut Me Out 2”: 20 million streams, 4 million views on YouTube, man. You having fun with it?

NLE Choppa:
Man, having a lot of fun. I feel like that’s the most important part of it. If we ain’t doing that, we ain’t doing something right so yeah.

Tetris Kelly:
Then, “Slut Me Out” came out two years ago, so tell me why now was the time that you was like, “I want to do a part two, I want to follow that up.”

NLE Choppa:
Man what’s funny is “Slut Me Out 2” came out two years ago. I released it around, like, March and it didn’t pick up traction until December, so like, it kind of was like a little bit under the rug and then in December, out of nowhere, it just started to gain traction. It goes crazy. I feel I could never really commit to it, so I was like, “No, I want to do a No. 2,” but really commit to it and see how far I can take it because the first one went like d–n near top 10 on Billboard, so I’m trying to push this one to one.

Keep watching to learn more!

31 May 2024

Eminem References Megan Thee Stallion Shooting In New Song “Houdini,” X Debates Whether or Not It Was A Lyrical Jab

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Eminem Mentions Megan The Stallion On

Source: Icon Sportswire / Getty / Eminem

For his next trick, lyrical magician Eminem resurrected Slim Shady for his new single, “Houdini,” but some folks—mainly the Hotties—believe the rapper went too far trying to be clever.

After months of speculation, Eminem returned to the music scene with “Houdini,” the lead single off his 12th studio album, “The Death of Slim Shady (Coup de Grâce).”

The 51-year-old Rock & Roll Hall of Famer uses the melody of Steve Miller Band’s 1982 hit “Abracadabra” in his new track and visual, reminiscent of his 2002 hit single “Without Me.”

In it, we see Eminem brings back characters like “Rap Boy,” his classic Slim Shady blonde hair, and even hops back in the Lamborghini for a rare appearance from his mentor, Dr. Dre, in the cameo-rich music video.



As for the lyrics in the song, those familiar with Eminem’s style will not be shocked as the Detroit native aims at himself, Dr. Dre, and even his children on the track that reflects on his life in the 90s and current times.

In the song, he raps, “Sometimes I wonder what the old me would say if he could see how (expletive) is today.”

But one particular bar did raise eyebrows. In a clear but what many are calling shady way, Eminem mentions Megan Thee Stallion rapping, “If I was to ask for Megan Thee Stallion if she would collab with me, would I really have a shot at a feat?”

This is an obvious reference to Tory Lanez shooting Megan Thee Stallion, which he was found guilty of and is currently serving time in prison for.

Social Media Debates Eminem’s Megan Thee Stallion Bar

The double entendre stirred up Thee Stallion’s loyal fanbase, the hotties, and others. Fans of Eminem point out that this is something he always does, and no one is off-limits.

“This is trash on so many levels,” political commentator and slayer of Mayor Eric Adams, Olayemi Olarin, said in a post on X, formerly Twitter.

Journalist Dee Barnes, whom Eminem’s homie, Dr. Dre, was charged with physically assaulting, also chimed in on the matter, saying, “Proving at that big age you’re only young once… but you can be immature forever.”

Some see no issues with Eminem’s Megan Thee Stallion bar. “Anyone calling this a “diss” didn’t listen to Em growing up,” one person wrote on X.

“I need yall to learn the difference between dissing and referencing… yall make my ass itch,” another post on X read.

Lover of all things Hip-Hop and NBA champion LeBron James loves the song, writing on X, “And just like that, HE’S BACK bruh!” @Eminem Houdini is too good!”

Of course, Bron Bron’s approval of the song also spurs reactions, with some wanting him to take back his positive critique of the single.

So, did Eminem diss Megan Thee Stallion? You can be the judge of that.

We are curious to see if Megan Thee Stallion says anything about it. She is currently on her Hot Girl Summer tour with GloRilla, selling out arenas.

Hit the gallery below for more reactions.

2. Hmmmm, points were made

3. Lol, damn

31 May 2024

Journalist dream hampton Shares Personal Notorious B.I.G. Footage In Doc Trailer

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It Was All a Dream

Source: dream hampton / It Was All a Dream

One of the culture’s literary pioneers is sharing her journey with the world. dream hampton has released the trailer to her new documentary, It Was All A Dream.

As exclusively reported by Variety, the esteemed writer is going into her personal archives for her newest endeavor. This week, Hampton released the trailer to her forthcoming film and she makes it clear she was really moving and shaking during Rap’s golden era. In the 90-second clip we see footage of her interacting with the likes of the late great Notorious B.I.G., Method Man, Snoop Dogg, Q-Tip, Ice-T, Mobb Deep and more.

In it she narrates each piece of archival footage in relation to the original writing assignment that featured the respective talent. Hampton detailed how the project came about in a formal statement. “Last summer, I was moving my daughter across the country and found two boxes of footage I forgot I had and spent the last few months making this film,” she explained. She would also reveal that Notorious B.I.G.’s son, CJ Wallace, was the first person to see the film and encouraged him to be one of the executive producers. “I named it It Was All a Dream not because of my name or ‘Juicy,’ but because of the golden haze that has cloaked this era.”

dream hampton has written for multiple publications and once served as the Chief Editor at The Source magazine. You can watch the trailer below.

31 May 2024

Executive Turntable: PierFerd Partners Up; Vegas Stadium Gets New GM; Warner Chappell UK Promotes VP of Sync

It’s time to drop the needle on another Executive Turntable, Billboard’s comprehensive(ish) compendium of promotions, hirings, exits and firings — and all things in between — across music. We also have an interview series spotlighting a single executive each week and a regularly updated gallery honoring many of the industry figures we’ve lost throughout the year.

Denise Stevens joined Pierson Ferdinand (aka PierFerd) as partner and co-chair of the firm’s global media, entertainment and sports practice. Based in Nashville and Los Angeles, Stevens’ expertise is in talent, creative and tech across music, publishing, touring and other fields. She was previously a partner at Loeb & Loeb and this year made Billboard‘s list of top music lawyers. Earlier this century, she authored the bill that ultimately became the Songwriters Capital Gains Tax Equity Act, which was signed into law in 2006, and she regularly offers counsel and assistance to songwriters and their heirs on copyright recapture issues. “I have known Denise essentially my entire career, having been on the opposite side of deals from her from time-to-time for more than two decades,” said Steven S. Sidman, co-chair of PierFerd’s Global Media, Entertainment & Sports practice. “I much prefer being on the same team as her, and I am delighted to finally work alongside Denise as one of the co-leaders of our group.”

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Alex Machurov joined the American Association of Independent Music (A2IM) as head of business development, effectively immediately. At his new job, Machurov oversees the indie label trade body’s strategic partnerships and develops sponsorship opportunities for the org’s tentpole events such as the Indie Week Conference and the Libera Awards. The live events veteran arrives from Tandem, a digital charity fundraising platform he co-founded in 2020. He was previously chief revenue officer at Revolution Marketing and a vp of national event partnerships at iHeartMedia, but he spent the bulk of the last couple decades at Superfly, where he clocked 10 years overseeing brand partnerships and activations at Bonnaroo, Outside Lands and other festivals. “Alex’s expertise and his passion for the independent music community will enrich our current activities and steer A2IM to more expansive opportunities,” said Richard James Burgess, CEO of A2IM. “We welcome his vast network of connections and the knowledge he brings to the independent sector.” Feel free to contact Alex@a2im.org.

Warner Chappell Music UK promoted Andrew Howell to vice president of sync at the publisher, effective June 1. He’ll continue reporting to Rich Robinson, evp and global head of sync, and Shani Gonzales, managing director of WCM UK and head of international A&R. Howell joined Warner Music in 2016 following career stops at both Universal Music and Sony Music. While at WCM UK, his team has landed several branding campaigns and connected multiple placements in games, films and television, including The Crown, Space Ape and Saltburn. Howell and company also run a monthly sync writing sessions in Warner Chappell’s London studios. “Andrew’s collaborative spirit has helped him build relationships with the songwriters and clients who place their trust in him,” said Gonzales. “He has an encyclopaedic knowledge of our songbook and an unrivalled instinct as to what placements will work. He’s also an amazing mentor to his team, so this is A very well-deserved promotion.”

Anthony Martini and Rich Barner teamed up to launch the Nashville-based label and management firm Gravel Road. The venture’s roster includes Compton Cowboys, Randy Savvy, Justbrandon, and producer Scattered Brains (Jelly Roll, Struggle Jennings). Over the years, Martini has worked with clients including TYGA, Jelly Roll, Killer Mike, and Lil Dicky. Under Martini’s previous label, Commission Records, Lil Dicky’s album Professional Rapper debuted at No. 1 on Billboard’s rap albums chart. Most recently, Martini served as CEO of Royalty Exchange. Serial entrepreneur Barner’s film company Global Pictures Media has worked with actors including Robert DeNiro, while his fragrance company was recently honored by the New You Awards for ASH by Ashley Benson. –Jessica Nicholson

Venue management giant ASM Global welcomed Andy Gorchov as the new general manager of Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas. Gorchov will be tasked with overseeing day-to-day operations, management and promotion at the 65,000-capacity venue, the climate-controlled home of the NFL’s Las Vegas Raiders. Gorchov’s decades of ginormous stadium experience includes time as general manager of Empower Field at Mile High, home of the Denver Broncos, and he also led State Farm Stadium in Arizona, home of the Cardinals. “ASM Global has been a trusted partner of the Raiders for years, and we are confident under Andy’s care that Allegiant Stadium will remain one of the greatest sports and entertainment venues in the country,” said Sandra Douglass Morgan, president of the Raiders.

Romeo Entertainment Group, which books talent at fairs and festivals across 35 states, promoted three of its staffers and hired six more at the 70-year-old Nashville family business. Promotions at REG include Adriana “Dri” Valadez, Taylor Williamson and Carly Dibble — all upped to talent buyer/event producer. New hires at the firm include Scott Kernahan as a tb/ep, Briannon “Bree” Griffin as executive assistant to company leaders R.J. and Michelle Romeo, and Chloe Dubrovay, Ali J. Stinehour, Alexandra “Alex” Hargiss and Grayce Keefer as event coordinators. “These promotions and new hires reflect our ongoing commitment to growth and excellence,” said R.J. Romeo, president. “As we celebrate these achievements, we are reminded of the legacy of innovation and leadership instilled by my grandfather, Don Romeo, and we continue to build on this foundation with a forward-thinking approach.”

Nashville-based worship label Integrity Music and its parent organization, David C. Cook, have named Blaine Barcus as president of the imprint, taking the helm from Jonathan Brown, who will become chief global officer. Barcus most recently served as senior vp of A&R at Provident Entertainment, and has held leadership roles at Word Entertainment/Warner Music Group and Creative Trust. Along the way, he’s worked with artists including Zach Williams, Third Day, Steven Curtis Chapman, Matthew West and recent breakout artists Ben Fuller and Seph Schlueter. –JN

ICYMI:

Patch Culbertson

Patch Culbertson

A Seoul court barred K-pop company HYBE from dismissing Min Hee-jin as CEO of its ADOR subsidiary label … Big Loud Records elevated Patch Culbertson to executive vp and general manager … Amy Homma, Jennifer Davidson, Jenny Galante and Matt Severson were promoted at the Motion Picture Academy … and run-don’t-walk to our annual 40 Under 40 list of the music business’ top young leaders.
Last Week’s Turntable: LOCASH Label Staffs Up

31 May 2024

How Bryan Martin’s ‘We Ride’ Scored Average Joes Entertainment Its First Top 10 Hit in Over a Decade

When Bryan Martin’s “We Ride” entered the top 10 of Billboard’s Country Airplay chart two weeks ago, the raw, stripped-down tune became not only the Louisiana native’s first hit, but it also marked the first time in more than a dozen years that Martin’s label, Average Joes Entertainment, achieved a Top 10.  

The song, which rises to No. 9 today (May 31), is Average Joes’ first Top 10 since duo Montgomery Gentry reached No. 8 in March 2012 with “Where I Come From.” That feat came the year after Average Joes’ current president, Forrest Latta, joined the label as a product manager, rising through the ranks to vp of A&R and now president. Founded in 2008 by country rapper Jason “Colt Ford” Brown and producer Shannon Houchins, who is the company’s CEO, Average Joes served as an early label home to such acts as Brantley Gilbert and LoCash, and also has a thriving film and television division, as well as publishing company. 

Average Joes hired indie promotion team New Revolution to work “We Ride” to terrestrial radio stations. The radio push was part of a multi-tiered campaign that started more than a year and a half ago with “We Ride,” and its ongoing success earns Latta the title of Billboard’s Executive of the Week. 

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Here, Latta talks about “We Ride’s” slow build at streaming outlets before the move to radio and the patient approach he and his team took to breaking the song. “I don’t think we would be seeing the same level of success without the right team executing in each phase,” he says.  

You released “We Ride” in October 2022. When did you decide to take it to terrestrial country radio and how long had it been since Average Joes made a  push to terrestrial radio? 

We started having conversations about it in May of last year and ended up deciding to pull the trigger with an impact date in September, the same week the record went gold.  Prior to this, our last approach to radio was 2017 with “Better Me,” in the wake of Troy Gentry‘s tragic passing. [Gentry, one half of Montgomery Gentry, died in a helicopter accident in 2017.] 

Bryan’s music has an honest rawness to it like Zach Bryan, Warren Zeiders, Oliver Anthony and Koe Wetzel. Is there strength in numbers that radio can’t ignore as we see a wave of artists like this telling their truth? 

I think the market has shown that it is hungry for this style, and I think country radio does a great job of keeping their finger on the pulse of the market. That said, the level of success of others was not part of our conversation when we made the decision to take “We Ride” to radio. 

What were the key steps you took to make it happen? 
 
Building out the right team was really important. We met with many people and had to make some tough decisions to get the right people with a strategy that aligned. Ultimately, the strategy took form in three phases — pre-release social push; post-release digital-first approach with our internal team; followed by a big push at radio with the New Revolution team. I don’t think we would be seeing the same level of success without the right team executing in each phase.  

 This is Average Joes’ first Top 10 on Country Airplay since 2012. What did you hear in the song that made you know you should push it? 

We knew we had something when we heard the work tape. Bryan is a great songwriter, and this is a great example of it. The vibe is unique, and the song is uniquely Bryan. We also heard the response from the market. Being able to take a song that already had that kind of data, we didn’t have to ask radio to take as big of a chance on it because it was already a proven winner. 

How much of Bryan’s success is how open he is with his very compelling story, including attempting suicide and his struggles with alcohol? And as someone who is newly sober, how did the label take steps to protect his sobriety? 

 All credit for Bryan’s sobriety goes to him — he’s one of the most determined people I know, and he is doing great so far. We absolutely seek to support him, whether it was helping facilitate treatment by taking a month off from recording, playing shows, and radio promo, as well as providing a safe environment to work in, and making sure he has a healthy team around him. 

How important was TikTok to fans learning about the song?  

It was huge building up to release. Andrew Davis, our vp of marketing, and his team put together a long lead plan focused on the platform and fought hard for it, even when some of us started to get antsy about setting a release. They deserve a lot of credit for that. 

“We Ride” has more than 190 million streams on Spotify, far and away his biggest streaming song. How has streaming helped propel its success, and what was the key component to the digital campaign?  

It was a little slow coming out the gates — DSPs weren’t as familiar with Bryan initially — but once they noticed the groundswell, they were quick to jump on board, and really helped grow the song early on.  

Will terrestrial radio be part of Bryan’s story going forward?

Absolutely. They have been great partners, and we look forward to continuing that relationship. 

31 May 2024

UFC 302 Livestream: How to Watch Makhachev vs. Poirier Live Online

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.

Two premiere lightweight fighters go head-to-head as the main event during UFC 302. Russian Islam Makhachev (25-1-0) defends his UFC Lightweight Championship against American fighter Dustin Poirier (30-8-0) in a title fight on Saturday, June 1.

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UFC 302: Makhachev vs. Poirier happens at Prudential Center in Newark, N.J., with a start time of 6:30 p.m. ET/3:30 p.m. PT. The main card is expected to begin at 10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT.

Want to watch UFC 302 online? This event is streaming on ESPN+ with pay-per-view access, which goes for $79.99, for subscribers only.

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If you’re not a subscriber, you can get PPV access and an ESPN+ monthly subscription — which is $10.99 per month — for $90.98 in total, or pick up an ESPN+ annual subscription for $134.98. The annual subscription bundle is the best deal because it saves you nearly 30% overall instead of going monthly.

Check out the full UFC 302 fight card below, and PPV livestream here.

Main Card, 10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT

  • Islam Makhachev (c) vs. Dustin Poirier (Lightweight) — Main Event
  • Sean Strickland vs. Paulo Costa (Middleweight)
  • Kevin Holland vs. Michał Oleksiejczuk (Middleweight)
  • Jailton Almeida vs. Alexander Romanov (Heavyweight)
  • Randy Brown vs. Elizeu Zaleski dos Santos (Welterweight)

Prelims Card, 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT

  • César Almeida vs. Roman Kopylov (Middleweight)
  • Grant Dawson vs. Joe Solecki (Lightweight)
  • Philip Rowe vs. Jake Matthews (Welterweight)
  • Niko Price vs. Alex Morono (Welterweight)

Early Prelims Card, 6:30 p.m. ET/3:30 p.m. PT

  • Mickey Gall vs. Bassil Hafez (Welterweight)
  • Ailín Pérez vs. Joselyne Edwards (Women’s Bantamweight)
  • Mitch Raposo vs. André Lima (Flyweight)

Meanwhile, subscribers to ESPN+ can livestream the early prelim and prelim portions of UFC 302 for free. The prelims air on the cable network ESPN2, so it’s available to stream on DirecTV Stream and Fubo. Both streaming services offer free trials — for five days and seven days, respectively — for new subscribers.

Moreover, Sling TV and Hulu + Live TV — which offers a three-day free trial — come with ESPN2 as well.

You can also get the Disney Trio — which comes with ESPN+, Hulu and Disney+ — starting as low as $14.99 per month.

Want to attend UFC 302 in person? There are last-minute tickets available via Vivid Seats, SeatGeek, StubHub and Ticketmaster. Prices vary depending on seats available at Prudential Center in New Jersey.

UFC 302: Makhachev vs. Poirier is streamable on ESPN+ on Saturday, June 1, starting at 6:30 p.m. ET/3:30 p.m. PT, with the main card beginning at 10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT.

Want more? For more product recommendations, check out our roundups of the best Xbox deals, studio headphones and Nintendo Switch accessories.

31 May 2024

Why Jessie Murph Believes the Best Is Yet To Come With ‘Unexpected’ Forthcoming Debut Album

As country music softly plays from a portable speaker near the pool of a private residence in Malibu, Calif., Jessie Murph is posing on the steps of an Airstream in her footwear of choice: Timberland boots with Western-inspired denim leg warmers. The style seems to riff on her favorite shoe, the snoot: part sneaker, part cowboy boot — and a perfect representation of the artist herself.

“Being from Alabama, country music was always around me,” recalls Murph, who grew up idolizing Adele, Amy Winehouse and Drake. “For a long time I resented that part of myself, so I tried to shy away from it. But then, just through accepting shit, it started to seep into my music more and more.”

That through line has since helped the 19-year-old artist carve a singular lane in a crowded field of young talent. Yet at a time when country music is enjoying a mainstream high, Murph is contemplating just how much she wants to lean in. “I’m trying to decide that for myself because I feel like everybody’s doing it now,” she says with a quick sigh. “So it almost makes me want to do something a little different because I feel like [country music] is beginning to be saturated.”

Trending on Billboard

Still, on her forthcoming debut album due out this year, Murph — who seamlessly skips among country, hip-hop and biting pop — plans to blend them all across the tracklist. She has already proved her chops in each lane, appearing on Diplo’s Diplo Presents Thomas Wesley: Chapter 2 — Swamp Savant alongside Polo G and, ­most recently, scoring her highest-charting Billboard Hot 100 entry with “Wild Ones” alongside country hit-maker Jelly Roll. “That is truly one of the best people I’ve ever met,” Murph says of Jelly. “I feel like I could go to him about anything.”

Sound, 21 Under 21, Jessie Murph

Kathryn Boyd Brolin

Being raised in a “musical household” in Athens, Ala. — with a population of nearly 30,000 — Murph started writing songs when she was 9 years old. By 11, she was posting covers on TikTok and YouTube, nailing everything from David Guetta and Sia’s “Titanium” to Billie Eilish’s “Ocean Eyes” to Post Malone’s more singer-­songwriter-based hits like “Feeling Whitney” and “Stay.”

After Murph started gaining traction online, her mother, a former musician, helped her daughter navigate the offers rolling in through email. (At the time, Murph was being homeschooled during the pandemic.) She signed a management deal with Disruptor’s Adam Alpert and Julie Leff in 2020, followed by a major-label deal with Columbia in 2021. Her debut single, the brooding and edgy “Upgrade,” arrived with a music video in which Murph dressed in a simple black outfit with slicked-back hair.

“That feels like a lifetime ago,” she says today, noting how much she has honed her style — and, as a result, her sound — since then. “From where I grew up, the style was really preppy, so I used to dress like that in high school. But as I found myself through music, I found myself stylistically as well. I think that also just comes with growing up … Everybody finds their own style as they get older, but I also lend a lot of it to the snoot, honestly. The snoot has inspired so much for me.”

The proof is in her hits. Her 2023 debut mixtape, Drowning, included standouts “Always Been You” and “Pray,” both showcasing Murph’s storytelling while spotlighting her Southern drawl and emotive rasp. The rest of her year was defined by her collaborations, adding one with Maren Morris titled “Texas” to her lineup.

Sound, 21 Under 21, Jessie Murph

But as she believes, the best is yet to come. She says her forthcoming debut album is the most proud she has ever felt of her music. “It’s just so truly me,” she says. “There’s some stuff on there that’s definitely unexpected … I’m rapping, I’m belting, and some of it’s slightly country. Everything I’m saying on this album, I fucking mean. It’s coming straight from the heart.”

Her latest single, the eviscerating “Son of a Bitch,” is evidence enough. While a bit of Winehouse can be heard in Murph’s soulful vocals — though she sings with more grit — the song is distinctly hers. And while rooted in the familiar concept of revenge, much like Carrie Underwood’s “Before He Cheats,” Murph’s take is more ominous, as she sings, “This side of me, she ain’t Jessie.”

For an artist like Murph, that kind of authenticity — personally and sonically — is crucial. And while she admits she has had to “overly explain” her vision in some songwriting sessions, she believes her wide-ranging interests are “less of something I’m meticulously doing and more because of who I am.”

She recently enlisted Shaboozey to open for her on tour and names Lil Baby as her dream collaborator. She’s ­predicting that “random” team-ups will become increasingly popular this year, expressing her excitement at a potential Lana Del Rey-Quavo release that has been teased online.

And while she has plans of headlining arenas one day (and eventually selling snoots), for now, Murph is enjoying fleeting moments of normalcy before her career kicks into overdrive. Having just performed at Hangout Music Festival, a hometown gig in Alabama’s Gulf Shores — she says the difference in crowd size from last year to now “makes me want to cry” — Murph is grounding herself with some family time. She rode bikes with her brother, laid out by the pool with her mom and later planned to watch the Winehouse biopic Back to Black.

For Murph, it’s more than a movie about one of her icons. It’s a reminder of what she herself has long been working toward. “I’ve always wanted to do this,” she says. “It’s just surreal.”

This story appears in the June 1, 2024 issue of Billboard.

Sound, 21 Under 21, Jessie Murph

Kathryn Boyd Brolin

31 May 2024

Billboard’s 21 Under 21: See Who Made the 2024 List

This year’s 21 Under 21 package features the next generation of superstars who are breaking online and busting down genre barriers.

The latter is something that Jessie Murph has done from day one, exploring new sounds and defining her identity on her “unexpected” debut album due out this year. The 19-year-old has collaborations with Diplo and Polo G, Maren Morris and Jelly Roll already under her belt, proving her ability to hopscotch across a variety of sounds.

Being raised in Athens, Ala. Murph is thrilled with the mainstream moment country music is enjoying — yet she’s contemplating just how much she wants to lean in. “I’m trying to decide that for myself because I feel like everybody’s doing it now,” she tells Billboard in her magazine feature that opens this year’s 21 Under 21 package.

Murph is just one of two artists included in this year’s roundup who explore the genre — the other being Mason Ramsey, who made his return with new music and a matured sound earlier this year. In addition to Murph, the 2024 list includes a slew of new entries including rising folk-pop artist Brenn!, Chilean breakout Floyymenor, K-pop girl group NewJeans, elusive R&B act 4batz, Nigerian singer-songwriter Qing Madi and many more. Such names are featured alongside more familiar chart-toppers (and 21 Under 21 veterans) like Tate McRae and The Kid LAROI, both of whom are on tour supporting their latest albums.

Despite featuring artists across genres and at various stages in their careers, there is one thing each artist on this year’s list has in common; Not only are they set for a stellar year ahead but, given their early start in the industry, their success stories are just getting started.

Methodology: Billboard editors and reporters weighed a variety of factors in determining the 2024 21 Under 21 list, including, but not limited to, impact on consumer behavior, measured by metrics such as album and track sales, streaming volume, social media impressions and radio/TV audiences reached; career trajectory; and overall impact in the industry, specifically during the past 12 months. Unless otherwise noted, Luminate is the source for sales/streaming data.

This article appears in the June 1, 2024 issue of Billboard.

31 May 2024

Eminem’s Kids, Pete Davidson & More Appear in His Superhero-Themed ‘Houdini’ Music Video: Watch

Shady’s back, back again, and this time, he’s bringing his family and a whole crew of famous friends. Eminem dropped his new single “Houdini” Friday (May 31), complete with a superhero-themed music video reminiscent of his own 2009 “Without Me” visual, this time featuring his three kids and a hilarious cameo from Pete Davidson. 

The clip starts off with the 51-year-old rapper’s bleach-blond 2000s persona stepping through a portal into the present day, looking around with disgust at modern inventions such as selfie sticks, robot dog-walkers and VR headsets. “Sometimes I wonder what the old me would say if he could see the way s–t is today,” he muses later on in the track. 

After Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg, 50 Cent and more stars warn 2024 Eminem that his old self has arrived, he dons tights and a cape to fight off his alter-ego on the roof of a skyscraper. During their showdown, they merge into one person, after which the new Eminem hops into a getaway car and declares, “F–k my own kids, they’re brats,” among other things, while holding up a middle finger to his children Hailie, Alaina and Stevie on FaceTime. 

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To top it all off, Davidson — also rocking a platinum cut — appears at the end. “Trust me, I’m a great driver,” he says before hopping into the front seat of the “Not Afraid” artist’s vehicle. “Don’t worry, I just got my license back.” 

The comedian previously recreated parts of the iconic “Without Me” music video in a Saturday Night Live sketch with Jack Harlow. A year later, Eminem made an appearance in Davidson’s tribute to the show’s creator, Lorne Michaels. 

“Houdini” is the first single off of Eminem’s 12th studio album, which is expected to arrive this summer. It will follow 2020’s Music to Be Murdered By, which debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200. 

Watch Eminem’s “Houdini” music video starring his kids, Pete Davidson and more stars above.