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22 Jan 2024

Yung Miami’s ‘Caresha Please’ Just Dropped a New Drinking Game That’s Perfect for Getting ‘the Party Started’

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Yung Miami is encouraging fans to “Act Up” in the form of the rapper’s new drinking game, Resha Roulette, which is inspired by her podcast Caresha Please. Rather than join the growing list of musician-owned alcohol brands, the “No Bars” singer has released an interactive game for you and friends to test your confidence.

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The game is for ages 21+ and comes with four shot glasses and more than 120 cards featuring prompts that aim to get you out of your comfort zone and take risks. Don’t expect this to be a music-trivia game, either. Each card pulled will present you with dares such as “name the last four people you had sex with,” and if you fail to deliver, you’ll have to take two shots. (Remember to drink responsibly, and remember: You can play with your favorite non-alcoholic beverage instead!)

Reviewers are already loving the game, as it’s been rated a No. 1 new release on Amazon in drinking games, and has garnered a 4.6 star rating. Verified reviewers are claiming it will “get the party started.”

Keep reading to shop the game for yourself or as a Galentine’s Day gift.

deck of cards next to four Resha Roulette shot glasses and product box

Amazon

‘Caresha Please’ – Resha Roulette: A Drinking Card Game for Parties and More

Make sure you drink responsibly with Resha Roulette, as its prompts and dares will not only get you closer to your friends, but will have you testing your alcohol tolerance at the same time. Through dares, questions and more, you can play this drinking game while getting ready for a night out, a bachelor/bachelorette party and more.

One shopper described the experience as “NOT for the faint of heart ?. There are some very suggestive dares and questions and if you refuse to answer or complete them you’ll have 2-3 drinks to knock back as punishment. By the second or third time you’re pulling a card inhibitions will get lower and lower resulting in a memorable (or not lol) night of fun. But be warned this is NOT a family game. Enjoy!”

For more product recommendations, check out our roundups of the best gender-neutral gifts, gifts for music lovers and the best gifts for singers.

22 Jan 2024

New ‘Harry Potter’ Squishmallows Will Cast a Cute Spell on You: Here’s Where to Preorder Them

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Plush toy connoisseur the Original Squishmallows is ready to upgrade your Harry Potter series streaming experience with an expansion of its collection inspired by the famous book and movie series.

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Starting Thursday (Jan. 25), you’ll be able to get your hands on the new Harry– and Ron-shaped Squishmallows, while a Hermione version won’t be available to purchase until Feb. 13. If you’re already spellbound over the upcoming release, you can preorder the cuddly plushies on Amazon here.

It may come as no surprise, but the iconic trio have already flown their way onto Amazon’s No. 1 bestseller list for stuffed animals and teddy bears. We caution waiting for release day to snag one or all three of the characters for your collection, as a Hedwig version was also slated to drop around the same time, but due to popularity, it’s already sold out.

Each one is around 10 inches in size and has a pre-order price guarantee, which means if the cost were to increase on the day of release, you only get charged the pre-order cost and not any more.

Plus, if you jump on it now, you’ll be guaranteed to receive the Squishmallows the moment they’re released — and if you’re a Prime member, you can receive free shipping with your order. Don’t have a Prime membership? Amazon is offering a 30-day free trial for new users when you sign up here.

Keep reading to preorder the new Harry Potter Squishmallows, or click here to check out all of the available ones within the collection.

harry potter-shaped squishmallow

Amazon

Squishmallows Original Harry Potter Plush

Consider this Harry Potter-inspired plush your new stress-relieving tool, as it’s not only soft, but features a squishy filling you’ll be tempted to hug whenever you’re feeling overwhelmed or happy. The design also comes with the character’s iconic glasses and legendary scar.

ron weasley-shaped squishmallow

Amazon

Squishmallows Original Ron Weasley Plush

Ron Weasley’s plushie will not only help complete your Harry Potter collection, but features all the lovable features of the character, including his famous red hair and Gryffindor robes.

hermione granger-shaped squishmallow

Amazon

Squishmallows Original Hermione Granger Plush

Don’t forget to add the book-smart Hermione Granger plushie to finish the trio of the world-saving wizards. This design even comes with the character’s wavy brown hair as well as her school robes as a nod the her Hogwarts house.

For more product recommendations, check out our roundups of the best mermaid tail blankets, bedding deals and wearable blankets.

22 Jan 2024

Dave Chappelle Rips Katt Williams Bashing Other Black Comics

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WASHINGTON - DECEMBER 3: Comedian Dave Chapelle enters the Kenn

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Dave Chappelle isn’t happy with how Katt Williams bashed other Black comedians, voicing his opinion about it at a recent show in Hollywood.

Katt Williams’ recent podcast interview with Shannon Sharpe blasting other comedians like Cedric the Entertainer and Steve Harvey has sparked a lot of conversation and some dismay. It has rubbed Dave Chappelle the wrong way, and he spoke about it while appearing at MonDeRays, an event at the Hollywood Improv hosted by fellow comic DeRay Davis. “What part of the game is this? He ethered n**gas. He didn’t say anything about any of these white boys. None of these white boys function like that,” Chappelle said at the event Friday (Jan. 19).

“Katt is one of the best painters in the game. So why are you drawing ugly pictures of us? Stop. Hurt people hurt people, but I am a hurt person that never hurt people, and he does it all the time,” Chappelle said before going into an impression of Williams during the Club Shay Shay interview. “‘F**k this one, and f**k that one, and f**k this one,’” then adding in, “But, n**ga, I didn’t hear anything that you did wrong. He didn’t do nothin’ wrong? Katt didn’t do nothin’ wrong?… Katt was talking about s**t that n**gas did to other n**gas, but not about anything that n**gas did to him.”

The comedian questioned why Williams would air his grievances like that when “all of us are trying to be in a better situation.” Later adding: “If I told my story, it would break your heart… I lost everything and never, ever told on anybody, and this n**ga’s the arbiter of truth.” Davis attempted to interject to defend Williams by stating it was good for comedy (similar to a claim made by Marlon Wayans), but Chappelle would brush it aside.

“You know why I disagree? Because I put a special out the same day. It was fine. And this n***a came out [and said], ‘I read 6,000 books … what the f—k is you talking about?” Chappelle’s latest Netflix special, The Dreamer, premiered Dec. 31, 2023. It was notable that Chappelle’s words were captured by someone in the audience – the comedian has often employed a “no smartphones” policy at his performances in recent years. The Club Shay Shay interview with Katt Williams, which premiered Jan. 3, has 52 million viewers to date.

22 Jan 2024

R&B/Hip-Hop Fresh Picks of the Week: Anycia & Latto, Rob49 & Lil Wayne, Andra Day & More

As we get closer to Usher‘s highly anticipated Super Bowl Halftime Show performance, the worlds of hip-hop and R&B are back in full swing with major albums, singles and pop culture moments driving tons of discourse across social media.

From Kendrick Lamar‘s tease of new music to Megan Thee Stallion‘s surprise appearance on Saturday Night Live alongside Reneé Rapp in support of their Mean Girls collaboration, some of hip-hop’s biggest heavyweights used stealth to their advantage. In contrast, Kanye West and Ty Dolla $ign‘s elusive Vultures joint album received yet another release date; this time, the record is slated to arrive on Feb. 9. — just two days before Usher is set to take the stage at Allegiant Stadium in Paradise, NV. There was also a hilarious meme acknowledgment from Drake by way of the rapper’s recreation of TikTok creator Drew Wall’s viral day-in-the-life Target run videos — soundtracked by the Grammy-winner’s “Virginia Beach,” naturally.

Of course, the R&B OGs also had an eventful week — chief among them funk legend George Clinton, who received his star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame on Friday (Jan. 19).

With Fresh Picks, Billboard aims to highlight some of the best and most interesting new sounds across R&B and hip-hop — from Anycia and Latto’s new outside anthem to Naomi Sharon’s gorgeous, acoustic paean for love. Be sure to check out this week’s Fresh Picks in our Spotify playlist below.

Freshest Find: Anycia feat. Latto, “Back Outside”

For their first official collaboration, Anycia and Latto skate over a horn-laden JetsonMade production that perfectly complements the laid-back-yet-urgent feel of each of their respective verses. When Anycia begins her pre-chorus with the deliciously cavalier, “Huh? I’m back outside/ Yeah, huh? N—a done made me mad,” her delivery immediately sets the foundation for a woman on a mission: she’s back outside and ready to get her lick back, but you’ll never see her sweat. As a fellow Atlanta rapper, Latto sounds right at home on the track, delivering yet another strong verse complete with funny punchlines (“And they sayin’ that I rap my ass off/ Turn around like, ‘I can’t tell’) and a healthy dose of shade (“Walked in, young b–ch, I’m turnt/ Got auntie hatin’, she burnt”).

Fivio Foreign & Meek Mill, “Same 24”

Reuniting for the first time since 2020’s “Demons & Goblins,” Fivio Foreign and Meek Mill get introspective over a drum-heavy beat courtesy of Saint Cardona and Lala the DJ. Worlds away from the Brooklyn drill that dominated his debut studio album, 2022’s B.I.B.L.E., Fivi opens “Same 24” with a stream-of-consciousness verse in which he exalts his tenacity and his maturation journey. “We got the same twenty-four hours, n—a / Why what’s mine gotta be ours, n—a? / Talkin’ ’bout n—as need help, n—as, I was “n—as” / But I rose out of the dirt, give me my flowers, n—a,” he spits. Meek adds a characteristically loud guest verse that celebrates his own come-up by way of slick double entendres; “My granny house a mil’, she ain’t even know I could rap my ass off/ You s–ttin’ me? I was super broke, I took that cast off,” he raps.

Rob49 & Lil Wayne, “Wassam Baby”

NOLA, stand up! In a week of stellar rap collaborations, Rob49 and Lil Wayne climb into the ring with thei rown “Wassam Baby.” Built around a gritty piano-anchored Mac Fly beat, the two New Orleans rappers wax poetic about their wealth and sexual prowess while spitting game at women from across the city, as Rob emphasizes in the chorus. If that hook sounds familiar, that’s because “Wassam Baby” leaked months ago and made the rounds as a viral sound on TikTok. With the addition of a strong Wayne verse — his balance of alliteration, punch lines and rhyme scheme variations are top-notch — Rob didn’t just give “Wassam Baby” a second wind, he gave it a completely new life.

Andra Day, “Where Do We Go”

It’s been nearly a decade since Andra Day’s Grammy-nominated “Rise Up” first entered the world, and in the time since, the multihyphenate has earned a slew of major industry awards and honors, including an Academy Award nomination for best actress in a leading role for her starring turn as Billie Holiday in The United States vs. Billie Holiday. Now, she’s back with the lead single for her second non-soundtrack studio album. “Where Do We Go” is a rousing exercise in the pacing of show-stopping vocal performance. Day’s sense of dynamics is on full display as she parses through the complicated process of seeking closure from a relationship she’s not ready to leave. “I see love inside your brown eyes/ Listening to ‘New Sky’/ Is everything an absolute, babe?/ Like, do we absolutely have to say goodbye?” she croons.

1K Phew & Zaytoven, “Let Go Let God”

For the latest chapter in the ever-evolving relationship between gospel and hip-hop, 1K Phew has finally unleashed his collaborative project with iconic rap producer Zaytoven. Titled Pray for Atlanta, the genre-blending set — which features collaborations with Hunxho and Jekalyn Carr — is a heartfelt address to the city from a rapper who clearly adores his hometown, and a producer who has helped shape the city’s modern sound. Focus track “Let Go Let God,” blends familiar Atlanta rap cadences with a hearty gospel message, finding the common ground between the secular notion of “trusting the process” and the sanctified notion of leaving things in God’s hands. “I been down if that’s okay, had to learn from yesterday/ Took a lot of L’s in my life, baby, and I ain’t goin’ back there, no way/ I got an iced out cross on my neck right now, tryna show him that he already paid,” he spits over Zaytoven’s trap production.

Destin Conrad, “WAR!”

Last Friday (Jan. 19), Destin Conrad dropped off Submissive2, the sequel to last year’s Submissive. “War,” the fourth track on the set, is a perfect blend of the rising star’s penchant for idiosyncratic Gen Z humor and lustful-yet-subtle R&B melodies. Obviously, the song is about the lengths one will go to for the person they want — rather the person they want to bag — but the trick of “War” is the way Destin plays into the innate melodrama of the concept. “I would smash the windows out your ex’s car without a second thought, baby/ I would gladly take the f–kin’ charge and that’s a criminal offense,” he opens the song.

It’s the chorus, however, that really drives home Destin’s shtick. He plays with his pitch and intonation to embody different characters across a melody that plays on the bounce-rooted “I’ll do [insert outlandish thing] for the d–k” punchline set-up. “I’ll sing Adele for that d–k / Rolling in the deep for that d–k,” the voices joke. It’s all fun and games until one voice proclaims that they’ll “pay for the d–k,” to which Destin comes back down to earth and ends the song, quipping, “Alright, you’re buggin’ (Yeah, b–ch, you dragged it) / You did too much, b–ch, too much.”

Naomi Sharon, “Nothing Sweeter”

Just a few months removed from the launch of her acclaimed debut album, Obsidian, Naomi Sharon has unveiled another new addition to her growing discography. “Nothing Sweeter” arrives as the latest evolution of the most Sade-influenced edges of Sharon’s sonic profile. The First Lady of OVO lays her elegant vocals over a sparse, delicate guitar-forward instrumental that allows her ample space to showcase her sense of vocal control. Lyrically, she extols the healing power of love while calling back to iconic R&B ballads of yesteryear, singing, “Uncover my skin, undo this pain/ Unbreak my heart/
Until I remember the way.”

22 Jan 2024

Ariana Grande’s ‘Yes, And?’ Launches at No. 1 on Billboard Global Charts

Ariana Grande’s “Yes, And?” debuts at No. 1 on both the Billboard Global 200 and Billboard Global Excl. U.S. charts. Grande earns her third leader on the former and her second on the latter.

The song is the lead single from Grande’s seventh studio album, Eternal Sunshine, due March 8 (as announced Jan. 17).

Elsewhere, 21 Savage debuts two songs in the Global 200’s top 10 – “Redrum,” at No. 5, and “Née-nah,” with Travis Scott and Metro Boomin, at No. 8 – Kali Uchis and Peso Pluma’s “Igual Que Un Ángel” opens at No. 9 and Xavi’s “La Victima” ascends 15-10. Plus, Bizarrap and Young Miko’s “Bzrp Music Sessions, Vol. 58” begins at No. 5 on Global Excl. U.S. and “La Victima” darts 18-9.

The Billboard Global 200 and Billboard Global Excl. U.S. charts rank songs based on streaming and sales activity culled from more than 200 territories around the world, as compiled by Luminate. The Global 200 is inclusive of worldwide data and the Global Excl. U.S. chart comprises data from territories excluding the United States.

Chart ranks are based on a weighted formula incorporating official-only streams on both subscription and ad-supported tiers of audio and video music services, as well as download sales, the latter of which reflect purchases from full-service digital music retailers from around the world, with sales from direct-to-consumer (D2C) sites excluded from the charts’ calculations.

Grande Debuts Atop Global 200

Released Jan. 12, Ariana Grande’s “Yes, And?” starts atop the Billboard Global 200 with 94.4 million streams and 67,000 sold worldwide through Jan. 18. Grande earns her third leader on the list, after “Save Your Tears,” with The Weeknd, reigned for a week in May 2021 and “Positions” premiered atop the chart and led for two weeks in November 2020.

Jack Harlow’s “Lovin on Me” drops to No. 2 after two weeks atop the Global 200; Tate McRae’s “Greedy” slides 2-3, after two weeks at No. 1 beginning in November; and Xavi’s “La Diabla” dips to No. 4 from its No. 3 high.

21 Savage debuts two songs in the Global 200’s top 10: “Redrum,” at No. 5, and “Née-nah,” with Travis Scott and Metro Boomin, at No. 8. The tracks start with 44.7 and 33.8 million streams, respectively, and 1,000 sold each, worldwide. 21 Savage scores his 15th and 16th top 10s – with “Redrum” marking his first with no accompanying artists. Travis Scott adds his ninth top 10 and Metro Boomin, his fifth. The songs are from 21 Savage’s LP American Dream, which bounds in at No. 1 on the U.S.-based Billboard 200 albums chart.

Kali Uchis and Peso Pluma’s “Igual Que Un Ángel” arrives at No. 9 on the Global 200 with 38.2 million streams and 1,000 sold worldwide. Kali Uchis notches her second, and top-charting, top 10 on the ranking, after “Telepatía” hit No. 10 in April 2021, while Peso Pluma banks his 10th. The collaboration is from Kali Uchis’ new album Orquídeas, released Jan. 12.

Plus, Xavi claims his second Global 200 top 10, as “La Victima” jumps 15-10 with 46.1 million streams (up 44%).

‘Yes, And’ Grande’s Also No. 1 on Global Excl. U.S.

Ariana Grande’s “Yes, And?” concurrently roars in atop the Billboard Global Excl. U.S. chart, with 68 million streams and 26,000 sold outside the U.S. Jan. 12-18. Grande tops the tally for a second time, after “Positions” led in its debut week in November 2020.

Tate McRae’s “Greedy” retreats to No. 2 on Global Excl. U.S. after three weeks in charge; Xavi’s “La Diabla” descends to No. 3 from its No. 2 high; and Jack Harlow’s “Lovin on Me” falls to No. 4 from its No. 3 best.

Bizarrap and Young Miko’s “Bzrp Music Sessions, Vol. 58” debuts at No. 5 on Global Excl. U.S., with 36.8 million streams outside the U.S. in its first full tracking week (Jan. 12-18), following its Jan. 10 release. The track is Bizarrap’s fifth top 10 on the chart, following the series’ “Vol. 57,” with Milo J (No. 10, last October); “Vol. 55,” with Peso Pluma (one week at No. 1, June); “Vol. 53,” with Shakira (No. 2, January); and “Vol. 52,” with Quevedo (six weeks at No. 1, beginning in July 2022. Young Miko posts her second top 10, after “Fina,” with Bad Bunny, hit No. 10 in October.

Additionally, as on the Global 200, Xavi adds his second Global Excl. U.S. top 10, as “La Victima” leaps 18-9 with 35.4 million streams (up 51%).

The Billboard Global 200 and Billboard Global Excl. U.S. charts (dated Jan. 27, 2024) will update on Billboard.com tomorrow, Jan. 23. For both charts, the top 100 titles are available to all readers on Billboard.com, while the complete 200-title rankings are visible on Billboard Pro, Billboard’s subscription-based service. For all chart news, you can follow @billboard and @billboardcharts on both X, formerly known as Twitter, and Instagram.

Luminate, the independent data provider to the Billboard charts, completes a thorough review of all data submissions used in compiling the weekly chart rankings. Luminate reviews and authenticates data. In partnership with Billboard, data deemed suspicious or unverifiable is removed, using established criteria, before final chart calculations are made and published.

22 Jan 2024

Sammy Hagar Discovers His Real Biological Surname – And It’s Not Hagar

Sammy Hagar found out some shocking news on the newest episode of PBS’ Finding Your Roots.

In a preview clip of the episode, the rocker finds out that his DNA does not match any men with the last name Hagar, meaning that genetically, that is not his last name. “Get out of here. This is nutty as anything I’ve ever imagined,” Hagar said, before confirming that he did want to find out what his real biological surname is.

After discovering that his DNA matches 27 men with the last name Belcher, Hagar was blown away. “What a trip,” he said, visibly shocked.

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PBS’ Finding Your Roots is hosted by educator Henry Louis Gates Jr., and features DNA diagnosticians analyzing genetic code, tracing bloodlines and occasionally debunking beliefs. The series also shows celebrities as they look through their ancestral histories, discover secrets and share their reactions with viewers. Over the course of 10 seasons, the show has featured everyone from Samuel L Jackson, LL Cool J, Questlove and Cyndi Lauper to Barbara Walters, Ben Affleck, Angela Bassett, Scarlett Johansson and more.

Hagar’s episode will also feature Ed O’Neill. The full episode will air on Tuesday (Jan. 23) at 8 p.m. ET on PBS. Watch the preview clip exclusively via Billboard below.

22 Jan 2024

Here Are Five Things You Didn’t Know About Laufey | Billboard

Laufey reveals five things you didn’t know about her!

Laufey
Hi, I’m Laufey, and here are five things you don’t know about me.

Laufey
No. 1, I don’t like pickles. I don’t know why I don’t like pickles. No. 2, I grew up figure skating and doing ballet. So I’m quite flexible. No. 3, my ultimate dream is to write the James Bond song. No. 4, I studied Danish for seven years, and speak a bit of Danish, but I can read, I can read Danish. No. 5 I really want to learn trumpet. I love trumpet. I love Chet Baker, and I feel like my life won’t be completely complete until I learn trumpet. And those are five things you don’t know about me.

22 Jan 2024

Max Martin Breaks Record for Most Hot 100 No. 1s Among Producers As Ariana Grande’s ‘Yes, And?’ Debuts

Max Martin now solely has the most No. 1s among producers in the history of the Billboard Hot 100 songs chart.

He tallies his 24th career leader as a producer on the latest, Jan. 27, 2024-dated Hot 100, as Ariana Grande’s “Yes, And?” blasts in at No. 1. He surpasses the late George Martin – who produced 19 of The Beatles’ record 20 No. 1s – for the most leaders among producers over the chart’s 65-year archives.

Grande, who earns her eighth Hot 100 No. 1 as a recording artist, Max Martin and ILYA co-wrote and co-produced “Yes, And?”

Max Martin first dominated the Hot 100 both as a producer and writer 25 years ago this month, when Britney Spears’ debut smash “…Baby One More Time” hit No. 1 on the Jan. 30, 1999-dated chart. He initially reached the ranking in both roles on the chart dated Oct. 28, 1995, when Backstreet Boys’ “We’ve Got It Goin’ On” debuted at No. 97. He notched his first two top 10s simultaneously on the July 12, 1997, chart, when Robyn’s “Do You Know (What It Takes)” and Backstreet Boys’ “Quit Playing Games (With My Heart)” rose to Nos. 9 and 10, respectively.

Among his triumphs, Max Martin co-wrote and co-produced the No. 1 hit on the Hot 100’s Greatest of All Time Songs retrospective: The Weeknd’s “Blinding Lights.”

For the star Swedish producer (born Karl Martin Sandberg), “What’s so impressive is that he’s always in tune with the times, which has enabled him to stay relevant all these years,” Dave Penn, co-founder of Hit Songs Deconstructed, which provides in-depth analysis of Hot 100 top 10 hits, told Billboard in 2021. “A decade ago, he was opting for more clubby dance beats and EDM-styled synths. But toward the end of the 2010s, he had embraced hip-hop and started including trap beats in songs.

“But while he has adjusted certain aspects of his writing and producing style over the years,” Penn mused, “what’s interesting is that many things have remained essentially the same. Melody reigns supreme when it comes to mainstream hits, and Max Martin is still the undisputed champion of pop melody. As the saying goes, if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.”

Max Martin also ties the late John Lennon for the second-most Hot 100 No. 1s among writers, 26 each, after only Paul McCartney’s 32; McCartney and Lennon co-penned all 20 of The Beatles’ No. 1s. (Two of those leading singles were double-listed with George Harrison compositions: “Come Together” with “Something,” and “The Long and Winding Road” with “For You Blue.”)

Here’s a rundown of Max Martin’s unprecedented 24 Hot 100 No. 1s as a producer.

22 Jan 2024

Kendrick Lamar Teases Unreleased Song as Part of Fashion House Chanel’s Short Film ‘The Button’

Kendrick Lamar has scored a short film for Chanel that arrived courtesy of a collaboration between pgLang and the French fashion house.

The Button was released Saturday (Jan. 20) and serves as a precursor to the Chanel Spring-Summer 2024 Haute Couture show film, which is set to debut as part of Paris Fashion Week on Tuesday (Jan. 23) at 8 a.m. ET.

Lamar’s pgLang partner Dave Free directed the three-minute black-and-white clip that also stars Naomi Campbell and actress Margaret Qualley.

“At the invitation of Virginie Viard, Kendrick Lamar and creative partner Dave Free meet the world of CHANEL Haute Couture for the first time, bringing to life a story about time and transmission,” pgLang captioned its social media post revealing the teaser.

“Actress and House ambassador Margaret Qualley plunges us into the tale The Button alongside actress and House ambassador Anna Mouglalis, as well as friend of the House Naomi Campbell.”

K. Dot scores Qualley’s chaotic journey to the French capital, where she comes face to face with the house’s head designer, Anna Mouglalis, in search of the missing button.

The Compton rapper briefly interrupts the frenzy to lend vocals from an unreleased track. “I’m up and down/ I’m unenthused,” he flows in a daze. “To see there’s an exit is impossible.”

The never-before-heard vocals serve as Kendrick Lamar’s first offering of 2024. While the rapper hasn’t released any solo music since 2022’s Mr. Morale & the Big Steppers, he’s guested on cousin Baby Keem’s “The Hillbillies” as well as a remix to Beyoncé’s “America Has a Problem.”

Watch The Button below.

22 Jan 2024

‘RuPaul’s Drag Race’: Hershii LiqCour-Jeté Thinks Rate-A-Queen Offered ‘More Shade Than Fairness’

After three episodes filled with about five thousand new twists, RuPaul’s Drag Race season 16 finally sent its first queen packing.

On Friday’s episode (Jan. 19), the now-united cast of 14 queens were tasked with throwing The Mother of All Balls on the main stage. Cycling through three looks on the runway, the contestants showed off their best Mother Goose looks (themed after nursery rhymes) and their best Significant Mother (themed after famous moms), before finally revealing their Call Me Mother/Father Eleganza, which they crafted one day prior in the work room out of nothing but menswear.

But of course, in this season of twists, Ru couldn’t just let the girls off that easily — the hostess revealed that the girls would be using the show’s newly-introduced Rate-A-Queen system one last time to determine the week’s tops and bottoms. After 14 rounds of voting from the contestants and classic judges’ critiques, Nymphia Wind was crowned the winner for her inspired look using men’s ties.

The news was not so good for Geneva Karr and Hershii LiqCour-Jeté, who wound up in the bottom for their lackluster looks. Performing in a high-energy, all-out lip sync to Ava Max’s “Maybe You’re the Problem,” both queens gave it their all, but only Geneva was permitted to stay.

Below, Billboard catches up with Hershii about performing in the ball challenge, speaking about being a queer parent on national television, and why she felt that the Rate-A-Queen system lended itself to “more shade than fairness.”



You made it to Drag Race, queen! How are you feeling after watching your run on the show?

I don’t feel bad at all — I genuinely feel like I gave it all I could, and I did the best that I could, and I did not quit at any point. I feel like nobody wants to be the Porkchop, but the best I could do is what I gave. I’m pleased!

I wanted to say, before we get into the episode, that it was so cool to see you talking about being a parent and how that affects your view on anti-LGBTQ legislation trying to limit children’s interactions with queerness. How have you been dealing with the ongoing release of these bills?

Honestly, I’m queer, so it’s not anything new with everything that’s going on. This has been happening. I do my best to actually try to not focus on it too much, because when I dwell on that stuff, it makes me sad and I don’t want to put that on my children.

I want them to have the most normal life that they could possibly have — whatever you consider “normal” being. They remind me every day that this normal is just fine for them, too; they don’t look at me as a queer person, they don’t look at me as a drag queen, all they see is Baba. They wanna make sure they get their cereal in the morning and their hugs at night. They are my focus; when it comes to everything else, I do my part in the voting booth, and I do my part being as visible as I possibly can. I mean, even just being a parent who is also a drag queen, even just being visible is political for me. 

Did your kids get to watch you on the show? 

So, they’ve seen it, but I don’t think they realize that it’s actually on TV. As far as they know, that’s just me at work!

Let’s get into the work, then! This season, we were introduced to the new Rate-A-Queen system — what did you think of this twist when it was first introduced to you on the show?

Oh, I hated it! [Laughs.] I did not like it at all! I just knew that, to an extent, it was going to mess up some chances for me. I knew that people were either going to play the game and be shady, or they were going to be fair — and there was going to be a lot more shade than fairness! I feel like I could’ve potentially gone further had a few of the girls played it a little more on the fair side. 

What did you make of Plane Jane’s “best are bottoms, worst are tops” tactics she used in your premiere episode?

Girl, I saw her wheels turning in the work room! I don’t know if the other girls caught it, but the second she said, “I’m going to make sure I play fair,” I gave her a look, like, “Yeah, sure you will, girl.” She turned out being exactly the girl I knew she was. But, that’s part of the game! The fandom wants TV, they want some mess, they want somebody to come in and shake things up — Plane Jane is your girl! 

If you had the opportunity to go back, do you think you would’ve done your Rate-A-Queen picks differently?

Absolutely! I went in there trying to be all integral and nice to everybody and fair — no, if I could go back, I would mess everybody’s placement up. [Laughs.]

It’s episode three, and we’re already at the ball challenge, which is easily one of the hardest challenges on the show. What was your immediate reaction when you found out the ball was happening this early in the show?

I love the ball challenge, because it’s the one challenge where you really get to show the most of yourself and your style on the runway, so I actually really like that they put it this early. My problem was with the design element — I can use a machine, but if you’re asking me to be a Q or a Sapphira or a Nymphia, I’m not that girl! 

Completely, and I feel like we always have the same discourse around the ball challenges, where people are shocked that some girls can’t sew. Where do you fall on that debate — do girls need to know how to sew when they go on Drag Race?

Oh, interesting. I don’t think it’s about knowing how to sew, because being a designer is a different type of talent. Everyone can know how to sew or not; I didn’t have to ask for any help with the machines, I didn’t need any glue guns, I could put an outfit together. But I’m not a designer, I cannot see fashion in that way. My drag is heavy on the performance side. It’s about being able to design, not being able to sew — like, when I saw what Q had wrapped around her neck, my jaw dropped. 

Sadly, you wound up in the bottom this week, lip synching to Ava Max’s “Maybe You’re the Problem” against Geneva Karr, and I was obsessed with the unhinged, church-lady energy you brought to this lip sync. What was your strategy going into that performance?

To be completely honest with you, I already felt like everybody had decided that I was going home. There was no need to ask Sapphira or Jane for immunity, because nobody was coming to save me. Plus, if you know me, you know that Ava Max is so far outside my wheelhouse — I love her as an artist, but that is not my wheelhouse. My thought process was, “If I’m leaving, I’m going to have the best time of my life on that stage.” So, the second the music hit, and that one camera swung in front of me, that was all I needed. I was just living my life on that stage. 

Well, before we let you go, I wanted to ask — is there any music you’ve been obsessing over lately?

Actually, yes there is! I just ran into this artist, his name is Dre Scot, and he is so good. I cannot listen to club music in my downtime, I need some relaxing, good vibe music, and Dre Scot’s voice is so relaxing, I love him. Oh, and Victoria Monét! Both of them are on constant repeat in the Hershii household.