State Champ Radio Author: djfrosty
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Billboard celebrated the genre’s top executives, impact makers and rising artists on Wednesday, (June 4) during the annual Billboard Country Power Players Awards, which were held at venue Category 10 in downtown Nashville. Reyna Roberts hosted the Country Power Players party, which launched with a performance by Latin artist Carín León. Brooks & Dunn’s Ronnie […]
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Tennis greats Serena and Venus Williams are embarking on a new venture – a video podcast, which will be hosted on X, formerly Twitter. In a statement announcing the news, the podcast is described as being for “visionaries, creators and rulebreakers passionate about shattering the status quo” and to give the public “a front-row seat into their playful banter and undeniable bond.” The as-yet-unnamed show will be hosted by both sisters, and will premiere in August. Other audio platforms are expected to also air the show after its debut.“We’re so excited to be launching our new podcast, a place where we will share our personal stories, have authentic conversations, spotlight important topics, and laugh a lot,” the Williams sisters said in their joint statement. “This platform gives us the chance to engage directly with our fans who have supported us throughout our careers, and we’re excited to connect with audiences, old and new, in a way we’ve never done before.”
The sisters are among the legendary elite of tennis, with Serena Williams having won 23 Grand Slam titles, the most in the open era of the sport. Venus has won seven Grand Slam titles, which include five victories at Wimbeldon. The sisters have also been dominant playing together, winning three Olympic gold medals and 14 Grand Slam titles. Venus and Serena Williams are among the most popular sports personalities on the X platform – Venus has 1.2 million followers, while her younger sister Serena has 10.6 million.
“Venus and Serena are among the most recognizable and revered athletes in the world, and their decision to team up with X places them at the center of our rapidly evolving original content strategy,” said the Head of Original Content at X, Mitchell Smith. According to metrics provided by the company, 92% of all social mentions of the Williams sisters take place on X, and Serena Williams is mentioned more than 5,000 times on the platform daily. The podcast will be produced by X in collaboration with Serena’s production company, Nine Two Six. It adds to the sports-themed programming that has been aired on the social media platform. The WNBA and X had a partnership to stream games through the platform last season, having an estimated reach of 5 million viewers.
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Hip-Hop’s extended golden era was riddled with many memorable moments and innovative creations from the dawn of the double-CD albums in Hip-Hop (y’all kids don’t know anything about that) to rappers proudly wearing iced-out logos of their record labels on their person. But Raekwon might’ve beaten them all to the creative punch when he released his debut solo album, Only Built 4 Cuban Linx…, in the now classic purple plastic cassette tape.
All these decades later that tape and album holds a special place in the hearts of OG Hip-Hoppers across the globe.
Looking to revisit that moment in time and era in Hip-Hop, Raekwon and his co-host on his Only Built 4 Cuban Linx… album, Ghostface Killah, have released a trailer for their upcoming documentary, Purple Tape Files, which takes us back to the summer of 1995 when the Wu-Tang Clan were the hottest group in the rap game and Raekwon and Ghostface had the streets on lock with their classic purple tape.
Featuring interviews with their fellow Hip-Hop peers such as Nas, Kendrick Lamar, DJ Premier and others, the trailer will give OG Hip-Hoppers all the nostalgic feelings that come with listening to Only Built 4 Cuban Linx in 2025, and we can’t wait to watch and hear our favorite artists from yesteryear and today speak on the impact that Raekwon and Ghostface’s project had on them personally.
“I remember literally n*ggas was getting stabbed in the jail for misplaced purple tapes,” recalled Noreaga in his interview.
We totally believe that. It was that real back in the day.
Continuing with Raekwon saying he put himself in a Martin Scorsese mind frame when he was penning his now classic album, Purple Tape Files seems like a must-watch for any Hip-Hop fan who not only loved Only Built 4 Cuban Linx…, but also might appreciate a little history lesson on what went into the making of such a timeless album.
Check out the trailer for Purple Tape Files below and let us know if you’ll be watching it when it premiers sometime in the near future.
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Karol G and Universal Music Group (UMG) are firing back at a copyright lawsuit over a track from her chart-topping Mañana Será Bonito – including arguing that a producer’s Instagram comment about the alleged similarities was posted “sarcastically” and wasn’t an admission of guilt.
The case, filed earlier this year, claims that the singer (Carolina Giraldo Navarro) and her co-writers stole key elements of her 2022 song “Gatúbela” from an earlier track called “Punto G,” released by producers Ocean Vibes (Jack Hernandez) and Alfr3d Beats (Dick Alfredo Caballero Rodriguez).
But in their first response to the case on Tuesday, Karol G and Universal Music Group flatly denied all of the lawsuit’s allegations. They said a musicologist report cited by the accusers, which claimed the songs were “extremely similar,” was “biased” and “patently improper.”
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“Defendants deny that they have interpolated, sampled, used, or copied plaintiffs’ work,” the Colombian star’s lawyers write. They also say they’ll be able to prove that “Gatúbela” was “independently created,” which could mean they have evidence that Karol G’s song was actually created first.
Released in February 2023, Mañana Será Bonito was a critical and commercial success, winning album of the year at the Latin Grammy Awards and reaching No. 1 on the Billboard 200 — the first all-Spanish language album by a woman to do so. “Gatúbela” was a hit in its own right, reaching No. 37 on the Billboard Hot 100 and No. 4 on the Hot Latin Songs chart.
Hernandez and Rodriguez sued in March, claiming they “immediately recognized” the song’s similarities to “Punto G,” which they say was released two months earlier: “By every method of analysis, ‘Gatúbela’ is a forgery.”
In one passage, the lawsuit cited an Instagram exchange in which Alfr3d confronted one of Karol’s producers (DJ Maff) over the alleged similarities. In screenshots in the complaint, Maff responded by commenting “don’t tell anybody,” followed by a laughing emoji. The accusers claimed this meant he had “shockingly admitted” to stealing their song.But in Tuesday’s response, attorneys for Karol G and the other defendants said the Instagram exchange had been taken out of context – and that a joking social media post was hardly an admission of copyright infringement.
“Defendants admit that DJ Maff promoted ‘Gatúbela’ in an Instagram post dated August 26, 2022 and that DJ Maff sarcastically posted the comment appearing in the screen shot,” write Karol’s defense attorneys. “Defendants otherwise deny the allegations contained in paragraph 4 of the Complaint, including Plaintiff’s characterization of DJ Maff’s Instagram comment.”
The case over “Gatúbela” is still in the earliest stages. Karol G and UMG will likely soon file a motion to dismiss the case entirely, after which Hernandez and Rodriguez will respond. The judge will then decide if the case can move forward toward an eventual trial.
In a statement to Billboard, an attorney for the accusers said the complaint filed in March “speaks for itself” and reiterated its allegations: “At the end of the day, we believe that artists and producers should be properly credited with and compensated for the works that they create,” said Chester R. Ostrowski. “That is all plaintiffs are looking for in this case, and they eagerly await their day in court.”
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As the racketeering and sex trafficking trial against Diddy continues, one witness currently testifying against him happens to be his ex-girlfriend who is having her legal fees paid for by him. According to reports, the woman identified as “Jane” dated Diddy, aka Sean Combs, from 2021 to 2024. Jane testified under oath that Diddy helped her find the lawyer that is currently representing her and is still paying that lawyer’s fees.In her testimony, Jane stated that Diddy helped her with the lawyer after his homes in Miami and Los Angeles were raided by the Federal Bureau of Investigation last March. This was after a Homeland Security officer visited her after the raids and left her a business card. Jane also testified that Diddy is still paying the rent on her apartment in Los Angeles, which is an estimated $10,000. She would testify that she felt “very loved by him.”Jane said that she dated Diddy until he was arrested last fall, and that they had “hotel nights,” which have been referred to as “freak nights” after the raids on his residences. She said that she didn’t want to take part in those parties, which have been described as marathons of sexual activity spurred on by copious amounts of drugs, which involved male and female escorts. According to the New York Times, Jane described how she would be left dealing with physical pain afterward including urinary tract infections.Diddy’s former partner Cassie Ventura’s lawsuit against him in November 2023 was also brought up during Jane’s testimony. She noted how similar Ventura’s accounts of the “freak offs” were to her own experience, and wrote as much to Diddy in a text message afterward: “I feel like I’m reading my own sexual trauma. It makes me sick how three solid pages, word for word, is exactly my experiences and my anguish.” Jane is still being cross-examined as of Tuesday (June 10).
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President Donald Trump ordered 4,000 National Guardsmen and 700 Marines to appear in Los Angeles to quell exaggerated reports of violence from those protesting the efforts of ICE agents i the city. During a meeting this week in the Oval Office, President Donald Trump floated the idea of sending the military to other major cities where ICE protests, many of which have been nonviolent, are occurring.
As reported by ABC News, President Donald Trump addressed the situation in Los Angeles amid conflicting reports of widespread violence from members of his administration, with their account drastically contrasting with those on the ground and seen on social media. President Trump, leaning heavily into his campaign promises of widespread deportation, appears to want to present a tougher image by employing armed forces to quell the protests.
“This is the first, perhaps, of many,” Trump said regarding future military deployments. “You know, if we didn’t attack this one very strongly, you’d have them all over the country, but I can inform the rest of the country, that when they do it, if they do it, they’re going to be met with equal or greater force.”
Gov. Gavin Newsom of California addressed Trump’s use of the military in an address to his constituents, stating that “democracy is under assault” as he dodged verbal attacks from House Speaker Mike Johnson and Border Czar Tom Homan, among others. Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass has echoed similar sentiments, alongside over a dozen other Democratic Party governors.
Trump also suggested enacting the Insurrection Act, which would give him the authority to deploy military forces to suppress violence and assumed rebellion. It should be noted that President Trump did not enact the Insurrection Act during the Jan. 6 insurrection attempt at the U.S. Capitol.
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Photo: Anna Moneymaker / Getty
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Sabrina Carpenter‘s break between her last album and next LP was short and sweet, with the pop star announcing Wednesday (June 11) that she has another full-length titled Man’s Best Friend coming out this summer. Sharing the news on Instagram, Carpenter unveiled the project’s sensual cover art — a photo of the Grammy winner down […]
Manuel Turizo officially hits the road on Wednesday (June 11), taking his 201 World Tour to Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico.
The CMN and La Industria Inc-produced stint is in support of his latest studio album 201, which is an homage to the apartment number where he grew up in Montería, and “represents all those dreams I had since I was a child, all those young desires,” he previously told Billboard.
In bringing the ultra-personal and intimate album to life, Turizo assures us that “the story [of my album] will be finished telling on the tour.”
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“I was thinking about how to connect Manuel Turizo as a performer with where he comes from and where all these inspirations or all these stories a person lives originate,” he tells Billboard in an exclusive interview at his Miami home. “All of that happens in my house. In [apartment] 201 there were heartbreaks, there were loves, drunken parties with friends, with family—all the stories are there. All the songs are born there, all the ideas are born there. I wanted to tell it in the same way and bring that 201 to the 70 cities where I’m touring.”
He reveals that the stage is inspired by his childhood living room back in Colombia: “201 tour is basically Manuel Turizo’s apartment that we’re going to fill with people and create chaos,” he elaborates.
While on tour, the Colombian artist will visit other Latin American countries like Chile, Costa Rica and Argentina, before launching the North American leg of the trek on Aug. 21 in Chicago. After visiting major markets like New York, Miami and Los Angeles along the way, he will return to Latin America to wrap up, with the last date on Dec. 6 in Guatemala.
Above, check out our exclusive “En Conversación,” where Turizo also opens up about his friendship with Shakira, his No. 1 Billboard hit “En Privado” with Xavi, releasing new music and more.
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Ciara’s spirit can’t be denied. She recently ran up on Jim Jones and urged him to marry his longtime girlfriend Chrissy Lampkin.
As spotted on Complex Magazine Jim Jones was out and about for the recent BET Awards. While conducting an interview with DJ Self, he got a surprise visit from Ciara who decided to crash the Q&A with a specific purpose. Upon sitting down at the booth the “Level Up” singer gave Jim Jones a very passionate rally to put a ring on Chrissy’s finger. “Ya’ll have lived life in every capacity anyone could live it in,” she explained. “You’re living like you’ve already done it, so let’s just seal it properly because you know what? She deserves it. You deserve it. Why not?”
Jim Jones took her speech with grace and smiled throughout the entire impromptu encounter. Later on CAPO sat in a different interview with Loren LoRosa from The Breakfast Club and was asked about Ciara plea. “I felt like I got scolded by somebody that was younger than me,” Jomo said jokingly. “Nah, it was good though. It was a great piece of advice. Honestly, I needed that encouragement.” He went on reveal that her advice was indeed received. “I needed to hear that, especially for somebody who’s active in preaching what she’s teaching, you know what I mean?” he added. “My situation has been going better than a lot of things that have been going on out here.”
In an interview with 90s Baby Show earlier this year, Jim Jones detailed that he has been locked in with Chrissy since the early 2000’s. You can see him discuss how they met in Miami below.
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Alison Wonderland connects with fans on a spiritual level around the world — but when she’s in Las Vegas, she goes big. See how she translates her love of DJing into shows where her fans can be present in the moment on her journey to ‘Get It Together’ ahead of her electric White Claw Sessions performance in Las Vegas.
Tetris Kelly:
Alison, Alison, Alison.
Alison Wonderland: Oh, hey, Tetris.
I thought you were gonna meet me in the lobby.
I got carried away. I’m so sorry.
On the White Claw bus? It’s waiting on us. We need to roll.
Let’s go. Let’s go.
Yo, what’s good it’s Tetris!
And I’m Alison Wonderland.
And we’re rushing to the casino right now because Alison is performing tonight, and she’s taking us with her.
White Claw session? Let’s go.
Gonna have some fun before we get to that show. So now that the vibes are ready, what are we preparing?
Well, we are in Vegas, so we gotta go big because I started off as a scratching DJ. I still like to play in vinyl mode, because even if I’m playing on CBJ, it’s not copper vinyl, you can still treat it like an instrument. You can still do scratches. The best thing you can do as a DJ is make sure everyone is having the best time and they forget about their phones. I don’t even think about it for me. I just feel like, oh my gosh, all these people are here, and we’re doing this together. I literally can sit in my bedroom and mix for hours, and I do that every day. I genuinely love,DJing.
Tonight, we’re gonna create the vibe again, and it’s all about grabbing life by the claw. What’s a time in your life that you did something crazy and you were like that really worked out?
Keep watching for more!
