State Champ Radio Author: djfrosty
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Zohran Mamdani is a 33-year-old Democratic Socialist looking to become the next mayor of New York City. As voters learn more about potential candidates, curious folks have dug up old rap videos from a previous life for Mamdani, who rhymed under the monikers Young Cardamom and then Mr. Cardamom.
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According to a 2019 story about actress Madhur Jaffrey in The New York Times, Mamdani made his rap debut in the late 2000s while running for vice president at the Bronx High School of Science. He then partnered with his close friend Abdul Bar Hussein to form a rap duo in the mid-2010s.
They would release a six-track EP, titled Sidda Mukyaalo, in 2016, which finds them rapping in six different languages while paying homage to their Ugandan roots.
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Mamdani (Mr. Cardamom) wouldn’t hesitate to touch on politically charged topics in his rhymes and dealt with racism. “When it’s a Black friend or family member, it always takes a bit longer,” he raps on “Askari,” which finds him playing a security guard opening a gate quicker for a white person.
One of the more recent tracks that has gone viral is his 2019 “Nani” video, a tribute to his grandmother, Praveen Nair, who worked for the nonprofit Salaam Baalak Trust. The visual, which stars Jaffrey and even received coverage from The New York Times, has more than 213,000 views on YouTube. It’s the only clip left on his official YouTube account as Mr. Cardamom.
Supporters hopped into the clip’s comments section, saying Mamdani has their vote and they’re convinced he needs to be the next mayor of NYC.
“He’s got my vote, just cause I don’t want smoke with nani,” one person wrote, while a second added, “I don’t even live in NY but please. Please, y’all gotta make him mayor, if only for this banger.”
Another chimed in: “I swear to god Zohran completed every damn sidequest out there lmao.”
The NYC mayoral race continues to heat up in its final days of the primary, with Mamdani closing the gap on former NY Gov. Andrew Cuomo among Democrats in the polls. A recent survey from the Marist Institute for Public Opinion found that 38 percent of voters said they’d rank Cuomo at the top of their ballots, compared to 27 percent for Mamdani.
Independent music platform Create Music Group (CMG) has formed a joint venture with Star Trak Entertainment and its co-founder Rob Walker, Billboard can exclusively report. Under the terms of the new partnership, CMG will provide worldwide distribution, technology and marketing services to Star Trak. As noted in the press release announcing the agreement, the joint […]
Murray Close / Will Smith
Will Smith’s legendary boneheaded decisions regarding choosing film roles early in his career will forever haunt him.
The rapper and actor has had numerous notable roles in his ongoing Hollywood career. Still, he will forever be remembered by movie fans for turning down the lead role of Neo in The Matrix franchise to star in one of the biggest flops of his career, Wild Wild West.
It turns out that he has been holding onto another epic failure, having turned down a role in the Christopher Nolan blockbuster Inception.
The Independence Day star shared during an interview with radio station KISS XTRA that Nolan pitched the 2010 mind-bending science fiction film to him, but he said nah because “didn’t get it.”
“I’ve never said that out loud,” Smith said in the interview. “And now that I think about it, it’s those movies that go into those alternate realities, they don’t pitch well.”
Bruh.
He didn’t reveal which role Nolan was pitching to him, but the lead role ultimately went to Leonardo DiCaprio, and we honestly couldn’t see anyone else in it now.
Smith Is Still Hurt About Turning Down The Matrix
Smith also revisited his decision to turn down the starring role in The Matrix, calling it one of his “beautiful scars.”
Instead of being the one, a role that eventually went to Keanu Reeves, catapulting his movie career, Smith decided to star as Jim West in Wild Wild West.
Smith was banking on his newly minted status as a summer blockbuster king following the success of his previous films, Independence Day and Men in Black, but that turned out not to be the case.
The Matrix went on to be a critical success in 1999, spawning two successful sequels and a reboot, while Wild Wild West went on to win several Razzies and was panned by critics.
We are sure Smith has learned some valuable lessons from his box office misses.
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J. Brown’s “True Love” charts a successful course to No. 1 on Billboard’s Adult R&B Airplay radio ranking as it rises from No. 2 to crown the list dated June 21. The song gives Brown his third champ on the chart. “True Love,” released and promoted through the independent label MoCha, wins the top spot […]
President Donald Trump is set to sign an executive order this week extending the deadline for TikTok’s Chinese parent company to divest the popular video-sharing app, marking the third such extension. The move comes after a previous 75-day reprieve granted in April, which aimed to keep TikTok operational in the U.S. while a potential sale […]
Fans who’ve been dying to see Bruno Mars become a Fortnite Festival Icon can now die with a smile, as the game has announced that the hitmaker is its Season 9 headliner.
Following in the footsteps of past Festival Icons such as The Weeknd, Sabrina Carpenter and Billie Eilish, Mars transforms into a playable avatar performing some of his biggest hits — including Billboard Hot 100-topping Lady Gaga collaboration “Die With a Smile” and ROSÉ duet “APT.” — on an all-new main stage, as previewed in a trailer that dropped Wednesday (June 18).
The partnership comes about three years after Mars first entered the Fortnite universe alongside Anderson .Paak as part of a Silk Sonic collaboration with the game — something Mars enjoyed so much, he tells Billboard in an exclusive interview ahead of the Festival Season 9 launch that there was no hesitation when it came to teaming up a second time. “When they hit me up again, I said, ‘Done!’” he recalls.
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“Last time we did this, there was no Fortnite Festival, so this time we get to lean even more into the music,” Mars adds. “I’m excited that we put a bunch of songs in the game that people can play to.”
Fortnite first introduced its Festival counterpart in late 2023, taking inspiration from similar music-focused games such as Rock Band and Guitar Hero. It has since welcomed numerous A-list artists to serve as the face of the game over the course of nine seasons, including Gaga, Karol G, Metallica and Snoop Dogg.
Each season sees its Icon made into a digital persona that fans can also use in gameplay, complete with special outfits, accessories, instruments and emotes. In Mars’ case, fans will have access to his retro cowboy getup worn in the “Die With a Smile” music video, “APT.” kit drums and more goodies.
“It’s very fun seeing myself as an avatar,” Mars tells Billboard of the treatment. “They really nailed my body proportions — tall, chiseled,” he continues. “It’s uncanny.”
Mars’ solo partnership with the game is particularly special, however, as it coincides with the official release of his song “Bonde do Brunão” on streaming services. The track started as an idea he shared with followers on social media that ended up going viral, leaving countless fans looking for a place to listen to it in full. Now, they have multiple; in addition to appearing on DSPs, “Bonde do Brunão” is also available in-game as part of Fortnite Festival S9.
“That song was a fun idea we put up on Instagram while I was in Brazil, but then it had a life of its own,” Mars explains to Billboard. “We had this idea of making it a part of the game, and Fortnite was into it. They went all out with it and got the song, the dance and the outfit.”
Fortnite Festival Season 9 featuring Bruno Mars is available to play now.
Watch the Fortnite Festival Season 9 trailer below.
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Before you and the fam settle in to watch the fireworks on the Fourth of July, be sure to check out “The Fourth in America” concert special — with the performer lineup revealed exclusively on Billboard below.
The special will include performances by headliner Noah Kahan, along with Lainey Wilson, Dierks Bentley, Sting, Nelly, Counting Crows, Timbaland, The Fray, CAKE, Sublime, Ice Cube, Kaskade, 4 Non Blondes, Ashley McBryde, The War and Treaty and the I Love the 90’s Tour with Vanilla Ice, Young MC, Rob Base and Tone Loc. Preservation Hall Jazz Band and the United States Air Force Band will also perform on the special, hosted by CNN anchor and chief political correspondent Dana Bash and CNN anchor Boris Sanchez, along with CNN anchor and correspondent Victor Blackwell and CNN anchor and senior national correspondent Sara Sidner from San Diego.
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The star-studded affair will not only feature performances from wide-ranging artists; CNN will also broadcast fireworks shows from across the country, including in Boston, Chicago, Detroit, Fort Lauderdale, Houston, Las Vegas, Nashville, Niagara Falls, New Orleans, New York City, Philadelphia, St. Louis, San Diego, Seward, Alaska and Washington, D.C. with CNN anchor/correspondent John Berman, CNN national correspondent Randi Kaye and CNN senior data reporter Harry Enten providing on-the-ground reporting from Nashville, Fort Lauderdale and New York City, respectively, as the United States celebrates its 249th anniversary of independence.
Now in its fifth year, CNN’s The Fourth in America has built on the success of CNN’s New Year’s Eve programming, making it a yearly destination during the Fourth of July as families across the country tune in after a day of barbecuing and chasing kids around.
CNN’s The Fourth in America special will broadcast live on CNN and CNN International, and will stream live for pay TV subscribers via CNN.com, CNN connected TV and mobile apps on Friday (July 4) with coverage set to begin at 7 p.m. ET on CNN and ending at 1 a.m. ET.
ENHYPEN earns its third No. 1 on Billboard’s Top Album Sales chart (dated June 21) as the group’s new project, DESIRE : UNLEASH debuts atop the tally. The set sold 95,000 copies in the United States in the week ending June 12, according to Luminate. In total, it’s the eighth top 10-charting effort for the ensemble.
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Also in the top 10 of the latest Top Album Sales chart, My Chemical Romance’s 2004 album Three Cheers for Sweet Revenge reenters at No. 2 (a new high) after its deluxe reissue, while the latest releases from Lil Wayne, Turnstile, Addison Rae, The Doobie Brothers, Volbeat and Marina debut in the region.
Billboard’s Top Album Sales chart ranks the top-selling albums of the week based only on traditional album sales. The chart’s history dates back to May 25, 1991, the first week Billboard began tabulating charts with electronically monitored piece count information from SoundScan, now Luminate. Pure album sales were the sole measurement utilized by the Billboard 200 albums chart through the list dated Dec. 6, 2014, after which that chart switched to a methodology that blends album sales with track equivalent album (TEA) units and streaming equivalent album (SEA) units.
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My Chemical Romance’s 2004 album, Three Cheers for Sweet Revenge, returns to Top Album Sales, reentering at No. 2 (its first week in the top 10) with 37,000 copies sold (up 2,987%). The set was reissued on June 6 with refreshed audio and bonus tracks, across many variants — including nine vinyl iterations. All versions of the album, old and new, are combined for tracking and charting purposes.
Lil Wayne’s Tha Carter VI starts at No. 3 with 34,000 sold — marking the 13th top 10 album for the superstar. Rock band Turnstile nabs its best sales week ever, and highest charting album, as NEVER ENOUGH enters at No. 4 with 27,500 sold. Addison Rae’s debut full-length studio album Addison arrives at No. 5 with 23,000.
SEVENTEEN’s SEVENTEEN 5th Album ‘HAPPY BURSTDAY’ falls 1-6 in its second week (14,500; down 69%).
The Doobie Brothers notch its highest charting effort ever (and first top 10) on the 34-year-old Top Album Sales chart, as the veteran band’s new studio set, Walk This Road, drives in at No. 7 with 12,000 sold.
Volbeat grabs its fourth top 10-charting title on Top Album Sales as God of Angels Trust starts at No. 8 with 11,000 sold. Morgan Wallen’s chart-topping I’m the Problem falls 3-9 with 10,500 (down 34%) and Marina locks in her fourth top 10 with the No. 10 debut of Princess of Power (nearly 10,000).
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.
Time to pull out your wallets. Prime Day 2025 is almost upon us.
While official dates for the Amazon-issued sale aren’t until July 8-11, we’re celebrating early. To help you get ahead of the curve, we’ve compiled a list of deals on products you can shop now from top brands we know you’ll love. From Adidas and Crocs to Apple and Dyson, this list includes deals up to 35% off on highly sought-after tech and footwear, along with must-have hair styling products and water bottles. So get shopping before you miss out!
Adidas Unisex Adizero Select Team Sneaker in White/Silver Metallic/Black
$48.21
$52.69
9% off
Unisex sneakers from Adidas with textured mesh uppers.
Adidas sneakers are beloved by many, but they can run you a pretty penny. If you can’t get yourself to pay full price, not to fret. Right now, Amazon has marked down Adidas’ Adizero Select Team model to just $48.21. The unisex sneaker is effortlessly lightweight and versatile to style, equipped with comfortable features such as breathable mesh uppers and springy rubber platform-esque soles that cushion the feet to add a subtle pep to your step.
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Sizing options range from 5 to 18 for women and 4 to 17 for men. The White/Silver Metallic/Black colorway is attractive for both men and women. We can picture these kicks paired with sporty athleisure to match the vibe of the shoe. For men, something like sweats and a tank or jorts and a basketball jersey. For women, we’d style these with leggings and a colorful zip-up or cropped hoodie.
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Wavytalk Hair Dryer in Cyber Rose Pink
$31.83
$54.99
42% off
A hair dryer with comb with three attachments.
Ever wanted a hairstyling tool that does it all? Well, look no further than the Wavytalk Hair Dryer. The piece is currently on sale for $31.83 and comes with three attachments that can really do it all. You’ve got the concentrated nozzle that delivers pinpoint precision airflow for targeted styling and greater control. You’ve also got the diffuser attachment that reduces frizz while enhancing and defining your curls or waves. Finally, the comb attachment both smooths and straightens, allowing you to detangle unruly hair with ease.
The dryer itself is a banger even without the attachments. It features an advanced aerodynamic design powered by a strong 1875W motor that offers high-speed airflow so you don’t have to spend hours drying your hair.
Crocs Unisex-Adult Classic Clogs, Black, 11 Men/13 Women
$35.30
$49.99
29% off
Crocs clogs in black with vents to aerate the shoe.
You can’t beat the comfort of Crocs. These unisex Adult Classic Clogs are extremely comfortable, affordable and cute, too. The classic silhouette is equipped with lightweight EVA uppers, or ethylene-vinyl acetate, a versatile polymer known for its rubberlike softness. This material is extremely flexible and easy to wash. Additional features include rounded toes and adjustable backstraps that make sure your shoes are secured to the foot.
The toes are fixed with breathable ventilation holes that keep your toes from sweating, a perfect touch for the sweltering summer heat. The soles of the Classic Clog are also made of plush and bouncy EVA material that cushions the feet. If you’re looking for a comfortable shoe to take you through the summer season, the Classic Clog might be for you.
Apple AirTag
$24.99
$29
14% off
An airtag you can stow away in your luggage or bag to keep track of your items.
With so much going on in the world, it is often a herculean task to keep track of what’s important. Apple’s AirTag makes taking care of your personal belongings a breeze. The tech uses a combination of Bluetooth and Ultra Wideband technology to ping nearby Apple devices, which can then relay the AirTag’s location to the user through the Find My app.
This works on select Apple products. You can store the AirTag in backpacks, luggage, purses and more so you can keep your things safe and protected, even if you don’t always have eyes on them. This Apple product makes a great gift for people who love to travel or for those who lose things easily. You know who you are.
Levi’s Men’s 501 Original Fit Jeans
$55.65
$79.50
30% off
Men’s fitted dark wash jeans in a slew of sizes.
Levi’s are popular, and for good reason — it’s a heritage brand with years of jean-making under its belt. The apparel brand’s denim is often a hefty price, but Amazon has Levi’s classic 501 silhouettes available on sale for just $55.65. The men’s denim is currently available in a standard silhouette and comes in a range of sizes from 28Wx30L to 66Wx34L. The fit of these jeans is straight leg and sits on the wearer’s hips. They’re a dark wash with multiple pockets and bronzy hardware accents. We can see these styled casually with a crisp white tee and Converse. Or go bold and layer on a denim jacket for a Canadian Tuxedo moment.
Hydro Flask Wide Flex Cap Black 64 Oz
$44.62
$64.95
31% off
A black stainless steel water bottle with a handle and black flex cap.
This water bottle from Hydro Flask is sure to quench your thirst. It’s massive and only $44.62 on Amazon. The sleek black style is made of insulated stainless steel that can withstand drops. Additionally, the bottle can keep drinks cold for 24 hours, and hot up to 12. That means you can store anything from tea to soda and water in this bottle without changing the temperature much.
To keep it clean, just pop the bottle in the dishwasher or wash it clean with soap. The most game-changing detail of this bottle is the leakproof cap which means you can toss it into your bag without fear of spillage. Beyond the technical features, the bottle is super cute. The all-black surface is broken up with a white logo, while the shape is bulky and playful.
Dyson V8 Plus Cordless Vacuum, Silver/Nickel
$349.99
$469.99
26% off
A powerful cordless vacuume.
Vacuuming has never been easier thanks to Dyson’s V8 Plus Cordless Vacuum. The model is currently available for $349.99, 26% off its original price. Unlike some competitor products, this vacuum is extremely lightweight and comes without a cord so you won’t end up tangled while decluttering.
Two special modes, Powerful and MAX, work to suck up dust and dirt. Powerful is meant for everyday cleaning, while MAX can be reserved for those tougher cleaning jobs. The vacuum’s Motorbar head is compatible with all floor types and works to clean up everything from spilled rice to pet hair. For those detail-oriented cleans, the V8 Plus converts into a hand-held vacuum, offering you two products for the price of one.
Beats Solo 4 Cloud Pink
$129.95
$199.95
35% off
Beats’ over-the-ear headphones in pink.
Beats Solo 4 Cloud Pink over-the-ear headphones are currently on sale at Amazon for $129.95 — that’s 35% off the product’s original price. If you love quality sound like we do, then this is a must-have. Coming in a pastel pink hue, these headphones feature custom acoustic architecture and updated drivers that deliver powerful sound.
The design is lightweight and ergonomic, offering all-day comfort. Plush ear cushions also ensure the wearer can listen to their favorite tunes without a hitch. These headphones boast 50 hours of battery life and can easily be charged up in 10 minutes, giving you up to five hours of playback. Beyond the technical aspects, the color is extremely cute, making your listening experience all the more stylish.
