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11 Dec 2023

10 Cool Pop Songs to Get You Through the Week: Fletcher, Rina Sawayama & More

Looking for some motivation to help power you through the start of another work week? We feel you, and with some stellar new pop tunes, we’ve got you covered.

These 10 tracks from artists including Rina Sawayama, Fletcher, The Knocks & Sofi Tukker and more will get you energized to take on the week. Pop any of these gems into your personal playlists — or scroll to the end of the post for a custom playlist of all 10.

Fletcher, “Eras of Us”

The second verse of Fletcher’s new single, “Eras of Us,” amplifies everything that comes before it. After opening with a meet-cute, the pop singer-songwriter details the rush of spontaneity (“I would fly across the country just to kiss you and be back in a day”), the inevitable letdown (“We crashed just as quick as we burned”) and the artistic point of it all (“I told every one of my friends, you won’t get a lyric again / But g–damn, here I f–kin’ am”). As she preps her next project, Fletcher utilizes this new anthem to illustrate just how much she’s been growing as a storyteller. – Jason Lipshutz

Hovvdy, “Bubba”

Texas duo Hovvdy’s new single “Bubba” is about a brother-sister dynamic evolving from childhood into adulthood, and the intimacy of that relationship is amplified through soft keys, pillowy harmonies and some production effects that zip around the arrangement without ever spiraling out of control. It’s a collection of hushed moments, winding down into an understated finale; “Bubba” isn’t a holiday song, but works well within a season of spending more time with loved ones. – J. Lipshutz

Florrie, “Personal”

With a new album due out next year, U.K. singer-songwriter Florrie has provided a stocking stuffer for longtime fans with “Personal,” a deeply felt account of a dissolving relationship that still finds the strength to be molded into uplifting indie-pop. “Your love, it cuts deep, but it hurts like hell,” she sings, the drums walloping as her voice echoes into silence; on a song that grasps for resolution, Florrie sounds assured in her craft and radiant in her delivery. – J. Lipshutz

Ratbag, “Rot in Love”

“This world kinda sucks, so I made my own.” So reads the bio on Ratbag’s official Spotify page, which includes the handful of singles that have earned the new artist acclaim since arriving over the summer, as well as debut EP Why Aren’t You Laughing? “Rot in Love,” the highlight of the new project, speaks to the self-generation of that self-description, its jangly pop textures and shout-along vocals seemingly beamed in from a world that’s much more gleeful than our own. – J. Lipshutz

Sofi de la Torre, “It Weighs So Heavy”

Innovative pop singer-songwriter Sofi de la Torre remains a must-listen anytime she returns with a new song or project, and “It Weighs So Heavy” closes out 2023 with a yearning cacophony that allows her emotion to slice through the vocal effects and fuzzed-out production. Following last year’s Cashflow & Tristesse album, let’s hope “It Weighs So Heavy” is a sign of more soulful pop coming from de la Torre in 2024. – J. Lipshutz

Kieran Ivy, “Get Out Of My House”

The slinky, sexy bass that opens “Get Out Of My House” is so warm and inviting that it creates a perfect — and unexpected — point of contrast for what comes next. “Get out of my house,” pleads rising pop-rocker Kieran Ivy, who later delivers a fuzzed-out riff that amplifies his wailing blues. The song functions as a direct line into Ivy’s mind, revealing the kind of innermost thoughts that are usually never said out loud — but here, he gives permission to hold nothing back. — Lyndsey Havens 

Brenn!, “Looking For”

Soul-pop artist Brenn! could be headed for a major 2024. With “Looking For,” on which he shows off his impassioned, subtle rasp over swelling Americana production, the artist doubles down on a sound that prevailed throughout the year thanks to artists like Noah Kahan and Zach Bryan — yet Brenn! injects his own music with a Southern-pop sensibility that’s all his own. While he sings, “I don’t know what you’re looking for,” it seems he found all he needs to continue cutting through. — L. Havens

The Knocks & Sofi Tukker, “One on One”

NYC dance duo The Knocks teams up with Floridian dance twosome Sofi Tukker for a funky fresh collab that skews a little closer to the former’s world, offering up a sprightly nu-disco banger that brings to mind early ‘00s Kylie Minogue. “Down baby, down baby, hey / it’s better when we wait,” commands Sophie Hawley-Weld before switching to Portuguese mid-song to complete the come-on.  – Joe Lynch

Day Wave, “As You Are”

Day Wave – the brainchild of Jackson Phillips – taps into his melancholic side with “As You Are.” The indie rock track is driven by somber guitar riffs and pensive lyrics to match, as he desperately attempts to hold on to the past ideal of a relationship (“My life, is speeding after you / And I want to slow it down) in spite of all signs pointing to dissolution (“You’re so calm, the way you talk around me / Is making us collapse”). – Starr Bowenbank

Rina Sawayama, “Flavour of the Month”

After the rollout of Sawayama’s 2022 release Hold the Girl – which spawned not one but two social-media friendly tracks (“This Hell” and “Frankenstein”) – the Japanese-British singer-songwriter expanded the set as an end-of-year gift with two new tracks. “Flavour of the Month” holds onto the sickly sweet hooks of the LP while adding a 2000s twist by incorporating a crowd-pleasing treat (ice cream) and likening it to how she can no longer please her lover, much to her dismay. – S. Bowenbank

11 Dec 2023

RVSHVD on Finding His Old-School Roots in ‘Small Town Talk’

His hometown — Willacoochee, Ga. — sounds a whole lot like “Chattahoochee,” so it’s not entirely surprising that indie artist RVSHVD’s current single, “Small Town Talk,” employs many of the same values that inhabit an Alan Jackson song.

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The red brick church, the tire marks he left on Main Street, his first broken heart and his grandmother’s grave marker all provide this relatable sense of RVSHVD’s upbringing, which is quite similar to the childhood that many country fans experience across America. In a very real way, “Small Town Talk” exists mostly because RVSHVD doesn’t tend to talk that easily about what he’s doing or where he’s from. He just kind of lives it.

“My dad will sit there and tell me the same story,” he notes, drawing an obvious contrast. “Even random people in the grocery store, if there’s somebody standing there, he’ll walk up — he don’t even know the guy — and he’s like, ‘This meat’s high, ain’t it?’ He don’t even know the guy! My mom, she ain’t going to say more than three words. That must be where I get it from.”

RVSHVD’s reserved nature was on full display in April 2021 when he took part in a writing retreat specifically designed to generate songs that fit him at The Penthouse, the home base for his manager, Jonnie Forster, located near the Beverly Center in Los Angeles. Four or five different rooms were set up with at least one “track guy” and one topliner, with each of those rooms aiming for a song in the morning and another in the evening across two or three days. It all started with a get-acquainted session, where RVSHVD shared a little about his personal history, his goals, his tastes and his philosophy. Still, the introduction wasn’t all that detailed.

“I think I remember Jonnie making some jokes about, you know, ‘Good luck trying to get a lot out of him, because he’s usually a man of few words,’ ” says singer-songwriter Josh Logan.

That’s apparently pretty accurate — it’s similar to the understanding that singer-songwriter Willie Jones, who shares Forster as a manager, has of him. “RVSHVD is like that,” Jones says, “simple, low-key, real chill, laid-back, really grounded and really thoughtful.”

Logan, Jones and Jason Afable all ended up in a room together that first morning, and as they sought a direction to write for RVSHVD, they fixated on that “man of few words” description. They batted around some ideas, then found themselves wondering what more they could learn about RVSHVD if, as an old adage suggests, the walls could talk. That became its own train of thought, and as they started chasing down what that could mean, Forster popped into the room for a bit. They told him where they were headed, and somehow the phrase “Small Town Talk” showed itself.

“Jonnie was a big part of that title,” says Logan. “I don’t remember if someone just threw out the title, or he really kind of got us going or encouraged us down that road.”

But it was enough to work from. Afable developed a bittersweet, arpeggiated chord progression on electric guitar, and they began building a hook that flipped the gossipy implication of “small-town talk” into a confident portrait of a man’s roots speaking for his character. The opening lines — “The way I was raised up/I don’t really say a lot” — came directly from the day’s conversation and set up the storyline that followed.


https://youtube.com/watch?v=8bixQajHv4A&version=3&rel=1&showsearch=0&showinfo=1&iv_load_policy=1&fs=1&hl=en-US&autohide=2&wmode=transparent

The phrasing in that verse was conversational, leaning into a fluid, hip-hop vibe near the end of the stanza, then lifted into a chorus melody that emphasized repeated three-beat phrases: “small-town talk,” “grade school walls,” “right from wrong,” for starters. The chorus’ images and its melodic components were classically country, forming a contrast with the flowy, hip-hop lead-in. It hinted at an artistic range that also showed itself in the span from the verse’s lower melodies to the chorus’ higher notes.

“A lot of singers got maybe one sweet spot,” Logan notes. “But for RVSHVD, I feel like his low tone is so rich and deep, and I just love that tone. But then also he has that upper range that just soars. So when he hits that, it just makes our job easier  because we can really utilize a different range, and we have [fewer] rules.”

The second verse painted an image of a broken-hearted young man who narrowly escaped tragedy, recounting an 18-year-old who drank a fifth of his dad’s Jack Daniel’s after his girlfriend broke his heart, jumped into his dad’s Cadillac and left tire marks on the road. The story wasn’t exactly RVSHVD’s — he changed the road to Main Street, his first overindulgence in alcohol was actually with Wild Irish Rose, and the tire marks he left were from playing with the gear shift in his mom’s car around age 10. But the narrative still hit close to home.

“When I first recorded the demo for it, I was getting choked up, and my wife, Angel, she was there with me,” remembers RVSHVD. “I’m tearing up, and I keep looking at her over in the chair, trying to make sure she don’t see me.”

The initial demo relied on the electric guitar part and drum with some other programmed parts thrown in. Afable produced several versions of it, though they had a hard time getting it right. RVSHVD, at some point, seemed to lose faith in it, so Forster suggested that Jones cut it. The song, he sensed, was too good to let go. Jones agreed on the song quality, though the opening lines didn’t really suit him.

“I talk a lot,” Jones says with a laugh.

He changed the street name and substituted Shreveport for Georgia to personalize it, but it never felt quite right.

“It was cool, but I felt like I was lying,” he admits. “Then he came back around, RVSHVD, like, ‘I want to do a version.’ I was like, ‘Do it and do it well.’ They changed the production, and I was like, ‘Whoa, that’s what I like to hear.’ ”

For that last go-around, Afable reached out to a multigenre Los Angeles production team, Dream Addix (aka singer-songwriters Michael Ferrucci and Chris Valenzuela, both of whom participated in the original retreat at The Penthouse), and they were able to meld just enough classic country pieces, such as fiddle and baritone guitars, to capture the song’s small-town essence and still feel contemporary. RVSHVD recut the vocals, and — since he had lived with “Small Town Talk” long enough —he had a different physical reaction to the song.

“It wasn’t tears no more,” he says, “but it was still chills on that.”

RVSHVD shot a video to “Small Town Talk” in his hometown, performing on the same football field where he used to play bass drum in the marching band and receiving a key to the city. The video and the song itself, released Nov. 3, shine a light on the same sort of small-town ethics at the center of country’s lexicon. RVSHVD knows it firsthand, and he expects the rest of his first album will create an even fuller picture of that heritage.

“Hopefully,” he says, “it’ll come out next year.” 

11 Dec 2023

Quando Rondo Arrested By FBI On Drug Charges

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Quando Rondo

Quando Rondo was arrested last weekend in Georgia and now faces federal drug charges and other related charges. The “I Remember” artist was arrested without incident but does add to the rapper’s legal woes from this year.

Local outlet WJCL reports that Quando Rondo, 24, was arrested on Friday (December 8) in his hometown of Savannah with city police named as the arresting agency.

The rapper, real name Tyquian Bowman, was inside a vehicle that officers pulled over and he was the only person to be taken into custody. The news outlet was told by an FBI spokesperson that the arrest was related to federal drug charges.

Just under six months ago, Rondo and 18 other individuals were indicted on drug and gang charges in the state of Georgia. Rondo is facing ramifications of allegedly violating the Street Gang Terrorism and Prevention Act due to his perceived role in the Rollin’ 60’s gang organization.

Quando Rondo is also facing a charge of the illegal use of communication for using a cell phone to set up the sale of marijuana.

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Photo: Quando Rondo / @quando_rondo

11 Dec 2023

Travis Scott & John McEnroe Squabble Over The Name Of Their Nike Collab Sneakers

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Drew Brees, John McEnroe Debut New OWL Pickleball Paddle

Source: Dave Kotinsky / Getty

Over the weekend, a video of Travis Scott and tennis legend John McEnroe arguing over their Nike collaboration circulated around social media. While it seemed like the two men were at each other’s throats over the name of their sneaker, it was just business as usual.

Arguing over whether to dub the collaboration “Cactus Jack” (as Travis normally names his Nike collaborations) or “Cactus Mac” (which John prefers), the two just couldn’t seem to agree on which direction to go as Travis wants all his Nikes to bare the “Cactus Jack” moniker.

In his signature fiery tone of voice, McEnroe took over the Zoom call and professed his preference for the shoe to be called “Cactus Mac” and told Travis to show a “little respect” for his and the sneaker’s history at Nike. Travis didn’t seem to too receptive to the idea and responded by saying that “Cactus Mac” sounded like a “burger or something.” Well, he’s not wrong. Though Travis remained calm and collected, McEnroe walked out on the meeting in frustration.

To make matters worse between the two heavyweights at Nike, Travis went and spray painted over John McEnroe’s championship plaque at Nike’s headquarters in Beaverton because, well, who’s gonna stop him?

Still, that didn’t keep John McEnroe from sporting the exclusive “Cactus Mac” sneakers while out for a stroll in the city. He didn’t go off on Travis but while talking about him he said, “The thing is: I was wearing these things in the 80s— before this guy was born. Now, all of a sudden, Travis Scott’s got this thing, ‘Cactus Jack.’ So I just made it ‘Cactus Mac,’ I mean come on. Have a little respect. That’s all I’m asking.”

Real talk, we’re not mad at the “Cactus Mac” on those McEnroe kicks. Whether or not those actually drop remains to be seen.

What we do know is that the “Cactus Jack” x John McEnroe Nike Mac Attack’s are set to drop Dec. 19. Will you be coping a pair? What do you think they should be named? Let us know in the comments section below.

11 Dec 2023

BTS’ V Shares Emotional Message to ARMY Before Beginning Military Service

V is preparing to enlist in the South Korean military, and took to Weverse on Sunday (Dec. 10) to share an emotional message to BTS’ fans, called the ARMY.

“I will miss you so much,” the note, written in Korean, reads. “Actually, I’m really sad that I can’t make happy memories with my ARMY for the time being […] it’s the hardest not to see the ARMY. I’II be back after 18 months of being healthy, so take care of your ARMY and if you’re looking for something to be happy about every day, cheers! I’m here! I’ll be back!”

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“Within 18 months, I’ve prepared a lot of things. Please look forward do it,” the 27-year-old singer added, before concluding, “I’ll really miss you. I love you so much.”

See his full message on Weverse here, which also includes a number of selfies of V, including the singer with a shaved head before he heads off to the military.

V is fresh off the release of a music video for “Blue,” the fourth single from his debut album, Layover. The set — which includes “Love Me Again,” “Slow Dancing” (plus its piano version), “For Us” and “Rainy Days” — arrived on Sept. 8. 

The K-pop supergroup’s label, Big Hit, shared earlier this month that the final four band members — RM, Jimin, V and Jung Kook — are beginning their military enlistment process, following Jin, J-Hope and Suga, who are already enlisted. “We ask that you only give a warm send-off and encouragement to RM, Jimin, V, and Jungkook with your heart,” the statement read.

South Korea requires an 18-month military service stint for all able-bodied men by the time they turn 28. BTS announced a pause in their group work in October 2022 to allow all the singers to enlist. BTS is expected to reconvene in 2025 when all have completed their duty to country.

11 Dec 2023

BABYMETAL, CHAI & More Highlights From Japan’s Rising Sun Rock Festival 2023 to Stream on YouTube

A special program highlighting the Rising Sun Rock Festival 2023 in EZO, an all-night outdoor rock festival that took place Aug. 11 and 12 in Hokkaido, Japan, is set to be streamed on RSR’s official YouTube channel for two days on Dec. 22 and 23.

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Approximately 64,000 fans flocked to see the festival that featured more than 70 artists performing on five different stages set up near the Tarukawa Pier in Ishikari Bay New Port north of Sapporo. Festival organizers felt determined to present the superb live performances to international audiences, and put together a special program showcasing the best of RSR including 69 songs performed live by 59 acts (Part 1: 23 acts, Part 2: 36 acts), as well as the activities available on-site including the numerous booths for food, drink, and more.

Longtime Hokkaido resident Neil Hartmann, an American multi-hyphenate who emceed the festival in 1999, will report from the festival site in English. The program will stream on YouTube for a total of about eight hours over the two days.

RSR 2023 on YouTube Streaming Schedule

Part 1: Friday, Dec. 22, 7:00 to 10:00 p.m. (Japan Time)

Part 2: Saturday, Dec. 23, 7:00 to 11:30 p.m. (Japan Time)

(Archive for each part available for 30 days only on https://www.youtube.com/user/RSRFESofficial/)

23 acts featured in Part 1: Kiro Akiyama / Odottebakarinokuni / Creepy Nuts / Quruli / Sambo Master / SHISHAMO / (sic)boy / SCOOBIE DO / STUTS / Straightener / Tani Yuuki / Chilli Beans. / 10-FEET / Denki Groove / Tokyo Ska Paradise Orchestra / Dongurizu / Hanaregumi / PEOPLE 1 / First Love is Never Returned / BREIMEN / MOROHA / yama / yonawo (Acts on Aug. 11 bill of RSR 2023)

36 acts featured in Part 2: ASOUND / ADAM at / iri / OAU / Kaneko Ayano / Kami wa saikoro wo furanai / Kroi / Ketsumeishi / ZAZEN BOYS / SUPER BEAVER / Sukima Switch / CHAI / Dios / DYGL / Teikoku Kissa / This is LAST / Tele /  The Dresscodes / Tabito Nanao / NEE / necrytalkie / Novelbright / FLOW / PEDRO / BABYMETAL / The BONEZ / Macaroni Empitsu / The Muddies / MISIA (Special Guest: Akiko Yano) / Mr. Forte / MONGOL800 / LAUSBUB / Lucky Kilimanjaro / LOVE PSYCHEDELICO (Premium Acoustic Set) / Rei / Rockon Social Club (Acts on Aug. 12 bill of RSR 2023)

11 Dec 2023

HHW Gaming: Sega Lowkey Stole The Show At The Game Awards With Return of ‘Crazy Taxi,’ ‘Streets of Rage’ & More

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Sega Announces It Is Reviving Crazy Taxi, Shinobi & More

Source: SEGA / Crazy Taxi

There were plenty of significant announcements and reveals from The Game Awards 2023, but Sega could lowkey stole the show with its Power Surge trailer.

The Game Awards 2023 are still the talk of the internet, whether it’s Geoff Keighley’s fumbling of the show, Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 not taking home any awards, or Bethesda announcing Marvel’s Blade while not confirming if it was an Xbox exclusive or not.

But one of the biggest surprises came from Sega after the iconic game developer confirmed the return of its classic franchises, Crazy Taxi, Golden Axe, Jet Set Radio, Shinobi, and Streets of Rage, each with brand new games coming.

Thank Sonic The Hedgehog For Inspiring Sega To Bring The Classics Back

Sega, who at one point seemed done with making games, revealed that the recent success of Sonic The Hedgehog’s latest titles was why it decided to drop new games from classic IPs.

“In recent years, Sonic the Hedgehog has forged new paths for SEGA, bringing the franchise to life and reaching new audiences in ways we had only dreamed of in the past. Building off that success, we are digging into our legacy and reimagining several franchises to bring these games to more audiences around the globe,” said Co-COO of SEGA Corporation and CEO of SEGA of America, Shuji Utsumi. “Today’s announcement is just the start of our initiative. First and foremost, our ambition will be to create great games with memorable characters and worlds. We hope fans of all ages will look towards our future with anticipation as we release these projects in the coming years.”

Sega notes each game is in different stages of production while not sharing the official titles of the games.

You can peep the announcement trailer below.



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Photo: SEGA / Crazy Taxi

11 Dec 2023

10 Toys on Sale You Can Still Snag in Time for the Holidays

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.

The holidays provide you with the perfect opportunity to shower your loved ones with the ultimate gifts that show just how much you love and appreciate them. As you look to find gifts for everyone on your list, there are friends and family members who are easier to shop for than others. Children, for some, can be challenging to find a creative gift as their interests seem to be constantly changing, but that’s where the best toys on sale come in.

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Holiday promos are still going on, and as the Christmas rapidly approaches, you may be in a position where you need a last-minute gift that doesn’t leave your wallet empty. Thankfully, there are plenty of toys on sale that’ll have you saving cash while still surprising the kiddo in your life with some of the best toys on the market. You can start with Amazon’s daily deals page or Walmart is offering up to 60% off last-minute gifts.

From Disney-inspired Lego sets to toys that’ll have kids’ minds bursting with creativity, there is something out there for every child in your life, from music lovers to dog lovers. Rather than spend time scrolling through the deals yourself, Billboard Shopping did the work for you and put together a list of the best toys on sale, according to reviewers.

Keep reading to shop our picks.

Best Toys on Sale

yellow transforming robot car

Amazon

Britik Transform Remote Control Car

$9.99

$19.99

50% off

Amazon has labeled this transformable car as the No. 3 most gifted item on the site, and we can see why. While it may look like a car at first look, you can transform this into a robot as well as control it with a wireless remote.

beast lab dino beast creator with supplies

Walmart

Beast Lab Dino Beast Creator

$34.50

$69

50% off

The kid in your life can let their imagination run wild with Beast Lab’s Dino Beast Creator. It comes with everything they could possibly need to create their own monsters, and is also half off, which means you’ll pay $34 instead of $69.

pink paw patrol playset

Target

‘PAW Patrol’ Liberty & Poms Toy Vehicle Playset

$18.74

$24.99

25% off

Gift the PAW Patrol fan in your life this vehicle playset — it comes with Liberty and Poms — that they can steer through their toy collection and be the superhero themselves.

model holding plastic orb ball toy glowing

Amazon

Flying Orb Ball Toy

$25.60

$42.99

40% off

Grab a flying orb ball that’ll mesmerize the child you gift it to — and maybe keep them off their tablet for a bit. It can light up as well as move around the moment you turn it on.

super mario bros tabletop game set up

Kohl’s

Epoch Games Super Mario Adventure DX Tabletop Skill and Action Game

$14.99

$29.99

50% off

Gamers can bring the video game to their kitchen table with this Super Mario tabletop action game. It’ll test their skills as they attempt to move through the obstacles without getting set back.

avatar way of water battle toy

Shop Disney

Shack Site Battle Playset – ‘Avatar: The Way of Water’

$23.98

$39.99

40% off

Rather than gift them the movie, surprise your loved one with an Avatar: The Way of Water playset. They can recreate the scene from the film itself or come up with their own scenarios to act out.

model playing with pink barbie dreamhouse

Walmart

Barbie Dreamhouse

$129

$179

28% off

Turn their room into their own Barbie Land with this dreamhouse that comes with a slide, moveable elevator and three stories they can customize to their liking. It’s also less than $150, making it a total steal.

lego

Amazon

Lego Disney and Pixar ‘Up’ House

$47.99

$59.99

20% off

The creators in your life will be excited to recreate the house from Disney’s Up. The Lego set includes 598 pieces and four figurines inspired from the film that’ll have your loved ones antsy to rewatch it.

Best Toys on Sale for the Holidays & Beyond

Singing Machine Portable Karaoke Machine

$32.90

$49.99

34% off

They can turn any gathering into a singing party with this portable karaoke machine. Now, the kids in your life will be able to belt out their favorite tunes using the included microphone as well as connect a Bluetooth compatible device to stream all their favorite songs with.

set of pokemon

Kohl’s

Mega Bloks Pokémon Beginner Trainer Team Pack

$24.99

$49.99

50% off

Pokémon fans can finally practice their trainer skills with this eight pack of figures including Pikachu, Bulbasaur, Charmander, Squirtle, Scorbunny, Grookey, Sobble and Wooloo. Plus, it’s 50% off, which means you can get it for less than $30.

For more product recommendations, check out our roundups of the best gender-neutral gifts, gifts for pregnant moms and graduation gifts.

11 Dec 2023

Masked Avatar Band FZMZ on ‘Shangri-La Frontier’ Theme Song ‘BROKEN GAMES’ & Plan for the Real World: Interview

FZMZ, pronounced fathoms, is the masked avatar band that burst onto the scene with “BROKEN GAMES,” the opening theme to the TV anime series Shangri-La Frontier, which began airing in Japan in October. FZMZ is said to be a collective of artists on the front-lines of the music scene, hailing from inside Japan and overseas, and the true identities of several members have already been discovered. JACK is (sic)boy, GAVI is Ivan (of Survive Said The Prophet), and KAMATA is Pierre Nakano (of Ling tosite sigure). However, the band remains shrouded in mystery. Billboard Japan talked with MAQUMA, HONNWAKA88, and KAMATA about their new CD single, “BROKEN GAMES,” which will be released on November 29, about what FZMZ is all about, and about the band’s plans for the real world. 

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FZMZ, we know you’re a group of active artists from Japan and abroad. While we know some of your true identities, there’s still a lot of mystery about you, and all kinds of theories are circulating on social media. Could shed some light on what led to you coming together and how it’s felt working as a group. 

MAQUMA: Urggg…while I’d love to leave it all to your imagination, I shall take advantage of this opportunity and deign to answer your questions! I was approached regarding Shangri-La Frontier, and I thought to myself, if I’m going to be doing this, then why not join with musicians HONNWAKA88 and KAMATA, who are fellow game and anime aficionados, and create a new project?! Then JACK and GAVI joined, bringing us up to five members. I wrote the demo and HONNWAKA88 worked on the arrangement. As soon as I heard it, two words flashed through my mind: “Giant, Massive Success!” 

Details regarding FZMZ’s members are still sparse, but you all clearly have a lot of experience and are highly skilled. It would be unsurprising if there had been some conflict between you, in terms of your motivations and musical preferences. Have you all gotten along well from the start? 

HONNWAKA88: This…is the NETAVERSE… 

Lineage matters not… sleight of hand matters not… 

Crazy sounds spill from our souls, laid bare… 

There is no need to hold back…we give ourselves up to the chaos, like a turbulent stream, to surging elation…and thus we are “FZMZ”… 

We can go… 

What kind of creative work do you see as the exclusive domain of FZMZ? 

KAMATA: FZMZ’s, like, this really avant-garde project, and we’re using VR, and games, and anime to open new doors. We’ve got some members we haven’t announced yet that are gonna blow people’s minds, so I’m super-hyped about the future! We’re gonna do some real world live shows and some particle live shows, and we wanna make things even more exciting! Now, if we just had some liquor and some meat and social media, it’d be perfect! Especially liquor! 

Your long-awaited first digital single, “BROKEN GAMES,” will be coming out soon. I know that you wrote it as the opening theme song for the TV anime Shangri-La Frontier. What feelings were evoked for you by this anime, this tale of a devotee of terrible games who uses the skills he’s learned through them to take on a beloved gaming masterpiece? What aspects of it did you want to express through your music? 

MAQUMA: Urgg…Going back to the comic book source material, I was struck by the dynamism of the battle scenes, so full of energy and movement they scarcely felt like a comic. Now that comic was going to be adapted in anime form, so it was vital that our song had a breakneck beat that could keep up with the anime’s tempo. That said, this anime is no simple collection of battles! There are also the aesthetics of the fantasy world, and appearances by other games, so we needed to weave new approaches into our music! Our supremely gifted rapper, Jack mixed in a hip-hop approach, to great success (that said, I am also a talented rapper!). What’s more, there’s a jangling yet sweeping chorus. These diverse musical elements come together to express the world of Shangri-La Frontier in sonic form! 

From the soaring, aggressive intro to the layers of rap, each with their different flows, and then the melodious chorus that opens up the song, it’s really a superb song that makes a tremendous impact. What areas did you focus on when writing the song? 

MAQUMA: Urggg! The whole world has its attention focused on the anime coming out of Japan. The image of anime reaching foreign audiences long after Japanese viewers is outdated. Now overseas audiences are keeping up with the latest anime. This is no exception, so, to some extent, we wanted to make a song that would click with overseas fans! For example, my rap, the first verse in the song, is in Japanese, but with English-style pronunciation. 

I imagine that lines like “Not not not yet NO, I haven’t had enough” and “this world is going to be mine…duh” reflect the feelings of the main character of Shangri-La Frontier, who keeps taking on games without ever tiring. There must be some overlap there between him and yourselves, who have such illustrious careers but never feel sated and keep pushing forward. What do you think? 

MAQUMA: A valiant attempt at an insightful observation, but unfortunately the lyrics of the song are all about the main character, Sunraku. It is free of the feelings of the members of FZMZ! How unfortunate! Don’t feel bad, interviewer! Urggg! However, it is true that no matter how much plankton I eat, I am never sated. This is because I am always growing hungrier! 

MAQUMA, you and JACK share credits for the lyrics and music. Is there anything you could share with us about how you divide up your lyric-writing and track creation duties? 

MAQUMA: Simply put, Jack writes his own rap parts, and I write the other parts! He’s more of a rap specialist than I, so there’s not much I can say about his part…but I was originally going to sing the “we can go” melody in the chorus. Instead, he sang a high-pitched version, and, honestly, I was stunned. What a serendipitous mistake that beautiful voice was! 

MAQUMA, some people have been saying that your voice sounds like the voice of MAH, the vocalist of SiM. They’ve also been saying that your sound production is reminiscent of SiM. What are your thoughts on that? 

MAQUMA: Urggg…Interviewer! Do you need to take a break or something? Are you suffering from sleep deprivation?! I am MAQUMA, and no other! We’ve heard in the NETAVERSE that there’s an incredible band called SiM in the real world…but FZMZ is number one! We’re unrivalled and unique!! 

Is FZMZ a one-time band, created for just this song, or are you planning on creating more in the future? Could you shed some light on that? 

MAQUMA: That’s not important! What’s important right now is that you get some sleep! You can’t do good work if you aren’t well-rested! Urggg…We’ve gone to the trouble of bringing together this group of thrilling and provocative members, so of course we’re going to gift the world with even more of our artistry! If the technology advances enough, the day may come when we can travel freely between our worlds and put on live shows in the real world. But until that day comes, listen to “BROKEN GAMES” and enjoy Shangri-La Frontier! 

–This interview by Ryuji Yakou first appeared on Billboard Japan

11 Dec 2023

21 Savage Receives Atlanta’s Carry the Torch Award for His Humanitarian Work

21 Savage has earned another honor. The rapper received Atlanta’s Carry the Torch Award on Friday (Dec. 8) at the Blue Christmas Gala hosted by the Young Democrats of Atlanta.

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The award, which highlights the rapper’s contributions to the music industry, social activism, youth empowerment and more, was presented to him by Sylvia Rhone, chairwoman and CEO of Epic Records and Ezekiel Lewis, president of Epic Records on behalf of Young Democrats of Atlanta, who also cited his efforts in education, immigration reform and financial literacy within his community.

“I’m honored to receive this year’s Carry the Torch Award,” the London-born, Atlanta-raised rapper said in his acceptance speech. “I want the kids to feel empowered and I hope I can be that inspiration for them. I didn’t grow up with much, and I paved my own path. I’m glad to be able to give back with my platform, especially with my financial literacy program. I hope I can lead by to the next generation.”

21 Savage shares the honor with political leader and civil rights activist Andrew Young. Elsewhere during the gala, Fulton County Commissioner Natalie Hall surprised Savage with a proclamation from the city of Atlanta from her represented district that promises to continue his impact in Atlanta and beyond.

The honor puts a pin in an eventful year for Savage. 2023 has seen the rapper embark on two tours: one with Drake, and a European tour after receiving a green card and being cleared to travel abroad.

Watch 21 Savage’s acceptance speech in the video above.