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It’s official! Pride Month is (basically) here, folks! To celebrate the occassion, why not add some new music from you favorite queer artists to your summer playlists? Billboard Pride is proud to present the latest edition of Queer Jams of the Week, our roundup of some of the best new music releases from LGBTQ+ artists.
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From Miley Cyrus’ experimental new album to Girl in Red’s heartbreaking new single, check out just a few of our favorite releases from this week below:
Miley Cyrus, Something Beautiful
Miley Cyrus has been through it since becoming part of the public discourse in her Hannah Montana days. But instead of simply trying to move past the tribulations she’s faced, the singer is ready to make art all about it. Something Beautiful, Cyrus’ oscillating, fluid new visual album, sees the star embracing her own story — warts and all — through scintillating pop-rock (“Easy Lover”), disco (“Every Girl You’ve Ever Loved”) and dance (“Reborn”). The throughline, as it has been on each of her albums, is Cyrus’ unwavering commitment to telling a captivating story through her own artistic medium.
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Girl in Red, “Hemingway”
During her Doing It Again tour in 2024, Girl in Red was in a dark place. Now, on her latest single “Hemingway,” the singer-songwriter is ready to give fans a glimpse of what she was going through. Over an entrancing melody, Marie Ulven sings about her struggle with addiction and depression with shocking honesty, before giving voice to the people in her life that helped pull her out of it. “You better give up this act you don’t know how to play/ And come back down before it’s too late,” she sings on the tearful chorus, once again showing fans what a stunning songwriter she really is.
Wet Leg, “CPR”
Sometimes there’s just that one voice in your head telling you that what you’re doing is maybe not the best idea. On Wet Leg’s slinky new track “CPR,” they tune that voice out and dive in head first to a relationship. Sure, Rhian Teasdale might be wondering aloud “is this love or suicide” over a bone-shaking bassline, but she makes her choice clear within the first line of the bombastic, excellent chorus: “Put your mouth to mine and give me CPR.”
Royal & the Serpent, “Euphoria”
Most people associate the phrase “euphoria” with the rush of sudden joy and pleasure — but Royal & the Serpent wants to access more than just that. With her new track of the same name, Ryan Santiago aims to “feel it all,” and proves as much with the track’s wide-ranging production. From tender, synth-assisted lows to explosive, beat-heavy highs, “Euphoria” feels, aptly, like an emotional rollercoaster. And much like those rides, you’ll be lining up to go on it again as soon as it’s over.
Kate Nash, “GERM”
The terf “TERF” has an elegant simplicity to it — it describes what it means literally (“trans-exclusionary radical feminist”), while also sounding like the simple put-down it is. Kate Nash would like to tweak the phrase just a little bit, though. On “GERM,” her experimental, spoken-word protest track, Nash looks to all the TERFs celebrating a UK court’s recent decision excluding trans women from the definition of “woman” and gives them a new name — “girl exclusionary regressive misogynists.” No, they are “not radical” or “rad at all,” Nash argues. They’re GERMs, trying to infect our public discourse with transphobic vitriol.
King Isis, “LATELY”
With their latest alt-pop anthem, rising singer-songwriter King Isis has had enough of the same routines. “Lately” sees the Oakland artist leaning into her own malleability, favoring change over stability on this angsty new single. Throw in some grungy guitars, a killer vocal performance and some smartly written lyrics, and you’ve got an excellent new track courtesy of King Isis.
Betty Who, “Sweat”
With Pride Month basically here, there’s no better time to find some songs to get you dancing this June. Naturally, Betty Who is here to deliver the goods on “Sweat,” her synthy pop anthem that’s practically built for your forthcoming Pride Month festivities. The driving beat keeps the pressure up, as Who’s voice reaches a new stratosphere, commanding you to get to the nearest dancefloor ASAP.
Check out all of our picks on Billboard’s Queer Jams of the Week playlist below:
Cardi B torched Offset after learning that her estranged husband filed for spousal support in their divorce proceedings. She hopped on X Spaces on Friday (May 30) and exploded on her ex for his spousal support request. The Grammy-winning rapper called Set a “f—-ing b—h” during her emotionally charged rant.
“Cus now I’ma crash out and I don’t give a f–k. You a b—h. N—a, you a f—ing b—h,” she began. Cardi B called out the reasoning behind Offset’s spousal support request, as he told The Breakfast Club it was over Cardi “asking for everything” and not letting him see their kids, which she denies.
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“You such a f–king p—y a– n—a,” she continued. “Word to my mother, I want you to die, but I want you to die f–king slow. When you die, I want you to die slow in the bed. And when you die, n—a, you gotta think of me.”
Cardi explained that she amended her divorce filing, asking for “no child support” because she “wants to be done with this marriage.”
“[Offset] is allowed to see my kids. He stood up my kids three times. He has seen Blossom only like five times,” she said of their four-month-old. “And I’ve been trying to save your face … Stop playing.”
She went on to claim that the last time Offset saw their kids was in March at his son Kody’s birthday. (He shares the 7-year-old with ex Oriel Jamie. Cardi detailed that the Migos rapper took issue with having to see their kids in a hotel room since she’s not allowing him to pull up to their New Jersey house.
Billboard has reached out to Offset’s reps for comment.
Earlier this month, Offset updated Cardi’s divorce petition in New Jersey’s Bergen County Superior Court with a request for an unspecified amount of alimony.
After more than six years of marriage, Cardi filed for divorce from Offset in August for a second time, seeking primary custody of their 6-year-old daughter Kulture, 3-year-old son Wave and baby girl Blossom. In February, Offset responded to the divorce, seeking joint custody of the children.
It appears Cardi B has moved on, as the “WAP” rapper was spotted courtside at a New York Knicks playoff game earlier in May with NFL star Stefon Diggs.
On Wednesday (May 28), President Donald Trump issued an order commuting the federal prison sentence of the former leader of the Gangster Disciples, Larry Hoover. The federal sentence of three life terms was given to Hoover for running the Gangster Disciples from his prison cell. However, Hoover remains in jail for state murder charges in Illinois. Advocates are calling on Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker to give Hoover clemency.Hoover’s commutation was part of a group of 26 acts of clemency and pardons issued by Trump. That group includes rapper NBA Youngboy and reality television stars Todd and Julie Christley. It was announced by the White House’s “pardon czar”, Alice Marie Johnson.
In a separate interview with TMZ Hip Hop, she said that she hoped that Governor Pritzker would consider giving Hoover clemency. Ye, aka Kanye West, has also made pleas to Trump to release Hoover, bringing one of his lawyers to the White House during his first term in 2018, saying it was “very important for me to get Hoover out.”The 74-year-old is currently serving a 200-year sentence for his conviction for murdering rival William Young in 1973. In order for him to be freed, a petition has to be approved by the Illinois Prisoner Review Board. Hoover was denied parole in 2022, after letters from Young’s family protested his release.
“I think there’s a mass pressure here for JB to show that he believes in redemption,” said community activist and Hoover friend Ja’mal Green. “If we’re going by what he claims he believes and the policies that he has signed on with his pen then Larry Hoover represents that. This is merely politics if JB Pritzker does not use a stroke of his pen.”“I understand folks on both sides some who quite frankly felt a lot of pain, but also those who can believe in the power of redemption,” said Illinois State Senator Willie Preston, representing the 16th District, to local NBC network News 5 Chicago.
According to a representative for the Federal Bureau of Prisons, Hoover remains in custody at the United States Penitentiary Florence ADMAX in Florence, Colorado. There has been no word from Pritzker’s office that signals that they’re open to giving Hoover clemency.
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Photo: U.S. District Court Records
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For those eager to get their hands on an Xbox dedicated handheld device, you’ll have to wait a bit longer.
Xbox chief Phil Spencer hasn’t been tight-lipped about the long-rumored Xbox handheld, speaking about the device as far back as 2017 when he claimed that Microsoft had “roughly designed” one in the past, while bringing up the device in numerous discussions that hint at its continued development.
Windows Central then threw more fuel on the fire when it reported on Microsoft’s strategy, which will see the company not only team up with a third-party on an Xbox-branded portable PC codenamed “Kennan” but also continue to work on its device, launching alongside the successor to the Xbox Series X/S in 2027.
Now, the website reports that Microsoft has “sidelined” the device as part of a strategy shift.
Per Eurogamer:
Now, though, Windows Central claims Microsoft has had a bit of a strategic rethink, and development of its own handheld device has been “sidelined”. According to the publication’s source, the company has internally announced it’ll instead “prioritise its teams to improve Windows 11 gaming performance, specifically for devices like the ASUS partner device Project Kennan” (NB. the site originally reported this under the name “Keenan” back in March, but has since updated its original story). It doesn’t sound like Microsoft is completely abandoning its own handheld plans, however; Windows Central says the company “still has big ambitions and is investing heavily to deliver a native Xbox handheld”, but third-party devices and Windows 11 improvements will be where it focuses its resources for now.
Project Kenna Is Still Coming
Windows Central reports that Project Kennan is “essentially finished” in terms of hardware, with the software component receiving a “significantly boosted effort” from Microsoft’s Xbox and Windows teams to “improve the experience on the software side.”
The plan to launch the Xbox-branded ASUS device sometime “later this year” is still on the table.
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Now that all the major music companies have reported earnings for the quarter ended March 31, it’s a good time to reflect on the notable performances in the bunch. Most companies posted good results and showed that music is a reliable business during times of uncertainty, with nearly all trending in the right direction (though companies not mentioned here didn’t necessarily have something to crow about). But because companies naturally experience ebbs and flows — a slow new release schedule or heavy sales of low-margin vinyl records can wreak havoc on market perceptions — the results for any one quarter won’t tell the entire story.
Below, I run down a few notable and/or interesting highlights from the latest earnings releases. For a full recap of earnings reports, refer to Billboard’s 2025 Q1 earnings roundup, which provides quick summaries of music companies’ earnings reports issued from April 29 to May 28. Best top-line revenue growth: 22% by CTS Eventim
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German concert promoter and ticketing company CTS Eventim’s top-line revenue got a boost from its 2024 acquisitions of See Tickets and France Billet, as consolidated revenue jumped 22.0% to 499 million euros ($525 million). Growth of the existing business was “slightly higher” than a strong prior-year period, CFO Holger Hohrein said on the May 22 earnings call. Ticketing revenue improved 16.9% to 214 million euros, a record for the first quarter. Retail tickets sold improved 42.1% to 40.5 million. Live entertainment revenue increased 24% to 292 million euros ($316 million), also a first-quarter record. Best streaming growth, record label: 9.5% by Universal Music Group (UMG)
Subscriptions helped offset a lackluster 2.9% increase in other streaming revenue, including ad-supported streaming, resulting in overall streaming growth of 9.5%. UMG executives have told investors they can achieve long-term recorded music subscription growth of 8% to 10% through 2028. While the figure bounces from quarter to quarter — and has fallen well below the target range — UMG landed above the high end of the target by achieving recorded music subscription revenue growth of 11.5% in the first quarter. The subscription growth was “driven primarily by growth in the number of subscribers, and to a much lesser extent, helped by certain price increases,” COO Boyd Muir said during the April 29 earnings call. Best subscription growth, streaming platform: 16.6% by Tencent Music Entertainment (TME)
TME’s subscription growth dominated the quarter for two reasons. First, average revenue per user improved 7.5% to $1.57, in part from the popularity of the Super VIP tier that costs five times as much as a normal subscription. Second, the number of subscribers grew 8.3% to 122.9 million. With more people paying a higher monthly fee, subscription growth rose to 17%. The ripple effects could be seen elsewhere: gross profit margin rose to 44.1% from 40.9% in the year-ago period, and the percentage of paying subscribers versus all music users improved to 22.1% from 19.6% a year earlier. Most surprising new business segment: Tencent Music Entertainment’s physical music sales.
In the first quarter, TME had a 10-day “head-start presale” of the Teens in Times album Beyond Utopia. TME also sold physical albums for One Hundred Thousand Volts by Silence Wang. For the K-pop artist G-Dragon, TME conducted a presale of light sticks and other products and offered limited-edition merchandise to buyers of his digital albums. Most impactful executive quotes: Sphere Entertainment Co. Executive chairman/CEO James Dolan and Vivid Seats CEO Stan Chia
Two vastly different companies provided contrasting takes on the state of live music demand. Amidst reports of falling international tourism to the U.S., Sphere Entertainment Co. CEO James Dolan downplayed concerns about visits to Las Vegas and attendance at the Sphere venue. Even if tourism took a hit, Dolan explained that “demand exceeds capacity, so we have room to absorb any issues from that.”
On the other hand, Stan Chia, CEO of secondary tickets marketplace Vivid Seats, described a more challenging landscape. The quarter “fell short of our expectations,” he said during the May 6 earnings call. Chia blamed the shortfall on “robust competitive intensity” and “softening industry trends amidst consumer uncertainty.” What’s more, he added, “economic and political volatility has impacted consumer sentiment, and this uncertainty can also impact how and when artists and rights holders go to market.” A 14% decline in revenue, combined with Chia’s comments and the company’s suspension of full-year guidance, caused a 38% one-day decline in Vivid Seats’ share price.
Central Cee’s Can’t Rush Greatness World Tour consumed Terminal 5 in New York on Wednesday (May 28). I say “consumed” because to enter Terminal 5 on the following night was to enter into a world dominated by nothing less than rabid, unchecked Cench fandom. I admittedly got there late, and heard Central Cee walk out on stage to a clamor of drums and screams while I meandered through security. When the walls shook with the rapper’s arrival, a young girl screamed for her friend to “hurry the f—k up” through the line, as if they had anything to do with the pace of security.
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“If I miss GBP I’ll f—king kill you!” she exclaimed in all seriousness before ultimately bailing on her friend and barreling toward the stage.
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This esurient energy was everywhere from the moment I got inside. Sweaty young supporters hurled themselves into mosh pits while shoving their friends and bulldozing their way toward the stage . A few die-hards carried vinyls, signs and handfuls of pens in the hopes of catching Central Cee’s fleeting attention. The U.K. spitter briefly indulged one fan early on in his set, signing his cap after it was hurled at him on stage, but the moment was ruined when dozens of others soared through the sky immediately after.
What struck me most amidst the ongoing chaos was Central Cee’s steadiness. There were some colorful visuals, but otherwise, it was just him on stage, rapping through “Ten,” “St. Patricks,” “Top Freestyle” “Gata” and more with the precision of a vet, but with the stage presence of a newly minted underground self-starter.
He couldn’t possibly be unaware of how beloved he is. The whole front row hollered every single word to “Truth in the Lies,” and three teen boys standing in front of me nearly tumbled off the balcony when he performed “Sprinter.” During his performance of “Gen Z Luv,” he FaceTimed a young girl in the crowd (a gimmick he’s used many times on tour so far), but the girl in question confidently spit every syllable in the song so confidently it felt staged.
Even if it was partially staged, the commitment was commendable. No special guests arrived (Cench had brought out A Boogie Wit Da Hoodie the previous night at Brooklyn Paramount), there was no backup dancers or any other fluff to add spectacle. The only “surprise” was when Cench busted out his seminal “On the Radar” freestyle, which he didn’t even need to rap because his fans drowned out the bars themselves. Prior to that, he played a few moments from Ice Spice’s “Did It First,” which garnered a surprisingly muted response.
The energy admittedly dipped during slower moments. “Limitless” didn’t pop off the way it should have, and Cench sat down for a performance of 2023’s “Cold Shoulder” that only some truly faithful Day One’s knew the words to. Regardless, the love was there, and the supporters came roaring back to life for a few more hits, most notably “Band4Band,” which the three teen boys in front of me knew, videoing each other singing with their phones. The trio had been clamoring for Central Cee’s attention all night, screaming at him during every lull. As Cench wandered around the stage, rapping “Band4Band,” the U.K. rap star finally looked up and gave a wave, causing the kids to dap each other up and almost seize in excitement.
“That was legendary,” one of them said as everyone stumbled out the venue. It was just Central Cee being himself, and for the sold-out crowd at Terminal 5, that was more than enough to satiate them.
Submit questions about Billboard charts, as well as general music musings, to askbb@billboard.com.
Please include your first and last name, as well as your city, state and country, if outside the United States.
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Let’s open the latest mailbag.
Hi Gary,
“20 Cigarettes” by Morgan Wallen has debuted at No. 20 on the latest Billboard Hot 100. If that’s its high, it will join the list of songs whose titles include the number where they peaked, such as Prince and the New Power Generation’s “7” and so many others.
I also see that Wallen has a Hot 100 tune titled “Jack and Jill,” marking the latest chart appearance for the couple.
Thanks,
Pablo NelsonOakland, Calif.
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Hi Pablo,
Let’s start with “Jack and Jill,” since they have seniority, as they are believed to date, in nursery rhyme form, to the 17th century. As clumsy as they may be, they’ve managed to roll up the Hot 100 three times via “Jack and Jill” song titles. Wallen’s debuts at No. 60 on the May 31 chart, after Raydio’s became a top 10 hit, rising to No. 8, in 1978 and Tommy Roe’s reached No. 53 in 1969. Like the latter two songs, Wallen’s will go tumbling after its peak, though maybe he won’t yet break his crown on the Hot 100.
As for fun with song titles and their peaks, along with “20 Cigarettes,” let’s look at a dozen more releases below whose titles have synched up to their Billboard chart runs.
(Sadly, “9 to 5” doesn’t make the cut, as Dolly Parton’s classic never worked its way from No. 9 to No. 5 on any chart in a single week. Plus, Taylor Swift’s “22” just had to become a bigger hit than its name, rising two more spots to a No. 20 Hot 100 high; neither Albert Hammond’s “99 Miles From L.A.” Toto’s “99,” Nena’s “99 Luftballoons” nor Jay-Z’s “99 Problems” peaked, or even ever ranked, at No. 99, with Hammond’s skipping directly over it, from No. 100 to No. 98; and Drake’s “Started From the Bottom” debuted at No. 63, or 37 spots from there.)
“One Week,” Barenaked LadiesThe lyrically random rundown spent exactly one week at No. 1 on the Hot 100 dated Oct. 17, 1998. The band was “big like LeAnn Rimes” that week — even bigger, as her smash “How Do I Live” simultaneously fell off the chart after a then-record run.
“Fortnight,” Taylor Swift feat. Post MaloneLikewise fittingly, the song claimed two weeks atop the Hot 100, on the charts dated May 4 and 11, 2024.
1, The BeatlesThe collection includes each of the Beatles’ record 20 No. 1s on the Hot 100. It became their most recent Billboard 200 leader in 2000.
#1s, Destiny’s ChildSimilarly, Destiny’s Child’s hits package topped the Billboard 200 in 2005. It houses all four of the group’s Hot 100 No. 1s.
“1-2-3,” Gloria Estefan & Miami Sound MachineIn 1988, the flirty anthem peaked at No. 1 (for one week) on Adult Contemporary — No. 2 on the then-active Hot Crossover 30 — and No. 3 on the Hot 100.
“Just the Two of Us,” Grover Washington, Jr. with Bill WithersThe R&B favorite hit No. 2 on the Hot 100 in 1981. Plus, Seduction’s “Two to Make It Right” peaked at No. 2 in 1990. Songs with “two” in their names aren’t jinxed, though, as two “two”-titled tracks have hit No. 1: Mary MacGregor’s “Torn Between Two Lovers,” in 1977, and Phil Collins’ “Two Hearts,” in 1989.
“3 AM,” matchbox 20The band’s 1997 single hit No. 3 on Alternative Airplay. Similarly, Maluma’s “11 PM” clocked a No. 11 peak on Hot Latin Songs in 2019. (Music director radio tip: Scheduling “3 AM” at 3 a.m. is a good way to perk up overnight air talent with something playful to talk about, and help keep them from falling asleep.)
“25 or 6 to 4,” ChicagoIf you have to pick among peaking at Nos. 25, 6 or 4, 4 is the best, and that’s how high this hit reached on the Hot 100 in 1970. While it never ranked at No. 25, it did rise 6 to 4.
“7,” Prince and the New Power GenerationThe track reached a No. 7 peak on the Hot 100 in 1993. (On Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs, it stopped at No. 61, but at least those numbers add up to 7.)
“#9 Dream,” John LennonThe song hit No. 9 on the Hot 100 in 1975. It’s the only one of the late legend’s eight solo top 10s or the Beatles’ 35 top 10s to have peaked at that rank.
“21 Questions (Again),” DebrecaIn 2003, the track by the singer reached No. 42 on Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs. Maybe “21 Questions (Again)” would’ve peaked at No. 21 if she didn’t add its subtitle?
“Eighteen With a Bullet,” Pete WingfieldPerhaps the best example of a song related to a trip up Billboard’s rankings, the single was its title on the Nov. 22, 1975-dated Hot 100, climbing four spots to No. 18 with a “*” award, or bullet, reflecting its positive chart momentum. The song, which hit a No. 15 best the following week, has fun with several industry shoutouts. Wingfield sings in the doo-wop-flavored track, “I’m high on the chart, I’m tipped for the top … but ‘til I’m in your heart, I ain’t never gonna stop!”
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Interest rates are historically high — this is bad news if you carry a credit card balance, but if you’re saving money right now, interest rates can help you reach your goal even faster.
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That’s why it’s important to be smart about where you stash your cash while you’re saving for something big, like a new piece of music equipment or studio space. A cash sweep program can be a great option for this money. It’s available when you need it, but earns way more than it would if it were sitting in a traditional bank account — or as crumpled twenties in a cash box (IYKYK). Here’s how to make sure your cash sweep program works for you — and why Robinhood Gold is a smart fit for whatever your financial strategy may be.
Not All Cash Sweep Programs Are Created Equal
A cash sweep program can offer more interest on your savings than a traditional savings account. But it’s important to compare your options. Some cash sweep programs require an account minimum, or else you might have to pay a fee. Others might make it tough to withdraw your money, or offer limited additional financial products. All of these barriers can make it tough to use your uninvested brokerage cash.
Robinhood, the investment and trading platform, offers Robinhood Gold, which provides a full suite of financial products you need, with the flexibility you require. And most importantly, it offers 4.5% APY on cash deposits — one of the highest interest rates available.
Interest That Adds Up
Interest rate matters because interest compounds, meaning that you earn interest on interest. Over time, that can help supercharge your savings. This is in addition to the interest you’re earning on your savings. You’ll get a boost from money you deposit, a direct deposit, wires, and even a Zelle or PayPal transfer.
Utilizing Robinhood Gold can help you know the money you earn — whether it’s from your day job, your gig work, or a combination of everything — is working as hard as you are.
Growing Your Money With Robinhood Gold
When it comes to your money, where you place it makes a huge difference. Investing can be great for longer-term goals, like finally buying a house or saving for retirement. But when you need money in the short term, it’s a good idea to park it somewhere it’s easily accessible. Utilizing a cash sweep program through Robinhood Gold allows you to keep your savings with other accounts you use, like for investing, so you have your money in one place.
Robinhood Gold differs from other cash sweep programs because the platform is also an investing app, with the flexibility you need to ensure your money is where it can grow the most. Beyond saving, you can also use Robinhood Gold to invest and even maximize your retirement goals with extra money from Robinhood Retirement — the only IRA with a boost on every eligible dollar. All of these tools can help you make the most of your money now, and for the future. Because, when you’re cobbling together gigs and saving for the next big dream, you need a savings solution as committed and creative as you are.
Fat Joe claims he bailed Justin Bieber out of jail following the pop star’s 2014 arrest in Miami Beach, but shared a conversation that followed between the stars that the rapper believes ruined their relationship.
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On the Thursday (May 29) episode of Joe & Jada, Joey Crack recalled receiving a call about a 19-year-old Bieber needing to be bailed out after being arrested in Miami Beach on charges of driving under the influence, driving with an expired license and resisting arrest.
“It wasn’t no money. It was nothing,” Joe begins about the bail amount. “Couple of hundred dollars, a thousand dollars. We used Rich Playa’s girl to bail him out. So we bail out Bieber, $100.” (The pop star’s bail was actually $2,500.)
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“The problem is he calls me to thank me and he starts saying, ‘I’m a gangster now.’ … He starts telling me he’s a gangster, I went to jail. I said, ‘Yo, Justin. Listen, bro. You gotta stop. We don’t want you gangster.’ We want you singing ‘Baby, baby.’”
Joe thinks that giving him some mature fatherly advice destroyed his relationship with Bieber, rather than going along with his rebelliousness at the time, as some others may have. They haven’t spoken much since the incident, according to the rapper.
“We don’t want you on the news. We don’t want you getting arrested. We want you to succeed. You’re Justin Bieber,” he continued. “My daughter worships you! We all love you! And that kinda messed up my relationship with him at that moment … He felt like I’m the fun killer. I f–ked up the moment.”
Billboard has reached out to reps for Justin Bieber for comment.
Seven years later, Bieber reflected on his 2014 arrest with some perspective and clarity on one of the low moments in his life as a teen.
“7 years ago today I was arrested, not my finest hour. Not proud of where I was at in my life. I was hurting, unhappy, confused, angry, mislead, misunderstood and angry at God,” he wrote to social media before mocking his fashion choices on the night of his arrest. “[I] also wore too much leather for someone in Miami. All this to say God has brought me a long way. From then til now I do realize something.. God was as close to me then as he is right now.”
Watch Fat Joe’s interview below. The Bieber bailout talk starts around the 18:50 mark.
New Music Latin is a compilation of the best new Latin songs and albums recommended by Billboard Latin and Billboard Español editors. Check out this week’s picks below.
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Ángela Aguilar, Nadie Se Va Como Llegó (Machin Records)
It’s a momentous album for Ángela Aguilar, and not only because it’s the first time she’s produced her own music, but also because it captures the 21-year old’s transformational spirit. Aptly titled Nadie Se Va Como Llegó, a nod to being in a constant state of evolution, Aguilar shows how much she’s grown as a singer-songwriter since launching her recording career at just eight years old.
Showcasing maturity in the lyrics — sharing songwriting credits with the likes of Fabiola Guajardo and Amanda Coronel, to name a few — the música Mexicana star captures the peaks and valleys of womanhood via songs of empowerment, heartbreak and love. Sonically, Aguilar stays true to her mariachi roots while also incorporating norteño, pop and cumbia elements for a variety of styles. “I’m getting out of my comfort zone but still honoring my roots and traditions,” Aguilar previously told Billboard. “I just turned 21, so it’s kind of like exploring where I want my career to take me.” — GRISELDA FLORES
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Aitana, Cuarto Azul (Universal Music Spain)
Aitana has opened the doors to her Cuarto Azul (blue room) — a 19-track set that has best shaped her identity as an artist. Lyrically, the Spanish singer-songwriter opens up about evolution, self-discovery, love, heartbreaks, and healing. Musically, it fuses pop, synth, electronica, and alternative rock. The album’s title “represents the room she returns to in order to reconnect with herself, free from judgment and external influence. It’s a space of healing, where darkness rooted in sadness, anger, and frustration gradually gives way to light—a restorative process that culminates in the return of joy,” according to a press statement.
Notable tracks on the set include the riveting punk tune “Segundo Intento,” the flirty pop track “Sentimiento Natural” in collaboration with Myke Towers, and the heartfelt ballad “Hoy Es Tu Cumpleaños” with Danny Ocean. Aitana also welcomed Ela Taubert, Kenia Os, Jay Wheeler, and Barry B, and Fangoria in her Cuarto Azul. — JESSICA ROIZ
Pipe Bueno, Vives con Mariachi (Warner Music Mexico)
Known as one of the pioneer of Colombia’s música popular genre, Pipe Bueno released his latest EP, Vives con Mariachi — a heartfelt tribute to Carlos Vives, featuring the vibrant Mariachi Sol de México de José Hernández. The six-track set seamlessly blends the lively Caribbean essence of vallenatos with the rich, emotive sound of mariachi, best capturing a unique aesthetic that celebrates the harmonies of strings, the brilliance of trumpets, and the depth of time-honored traditions.
Vives kicks off with “Bailar Contigo” in collaboration with Majo Aguilar, drawing listeners in with its melodic charm. “La Gota Fría” showcases Pipe’s dynamic vocal performance, where he creates a stunning counterpoint to the bold brass sections of the mariachi. In “Déjame Entrar,” collaborator Adriel Favela delivers a delicate and measured interpretation that adds layers of tension and subtlety to the track. The album moves forward with “Volví a Nacer” and “La Tierra del Olvido,” tracks that elevate Vives’ original repertoire to new emotional landscapes. — INGRID FAJARDO
Reik & Yami Safdie, “Es Tan Corta La Vida” (Sony Music México)
The Mexican band Reik teams up with the emerging Argentine artist Yami Safdie for the single “Es Tan Corta La Vida,” the only collaboration from their recent EP TQ that celebrates 20 years of their career. Together they deliver a sweet contemporary pop ballad that speaks of love in the midst of the fleeting nature of life. The sound, marked by the strumming of acoustic guitars in the style of the band’s beginnings, enhances the sincerity of phrases like “God forgives, but time doesn’t” and “life is so short for you not to be with me.” — LUISA CALLE
Yailin La Más Viral, “Todos Mienten” (Roc Nation Distribution)
With her latest single “Todos Mienten,” Yailin La Más Viral dives headfirst into the hypnotic rhythms of baile funk, once again molding Brazilian beats with her unapologetic Dominican edge. The track breathes fire, delivering biting lyrics that portray her fearless confidence: “Maldita perra tú lo va’ perder,” she sneers, capturing the raw, unfiltered energy that defines her brand.
Anchored by Consobeatz’s sultry production, the song thrives on its sly pulse and effortless swagger, setting the stage for Yailin’s continued ascent. The music video too pushes boundaries, spiking interest with provocative visuals reminiscent of Shakira’s “La Tortura” and Miley Cyrus’ “Wrecking Ball.” Drenched in oil, Yailin radiates seductive power while seated atop a motor engine in an audacious nod to rebellious allure. — ISABELA RAYGOZA
3BallMTY feat. Conjunto Nuevo Amanecer, “El Nene” (Top Music)
After an eight-year hiatus, 3BallMTY returns to the music scene with “El Nene,” a song in which their iconic tribal and techno sound feels even more powerful with the joyful cumbia touches of Conjunto Nuevo Amanecer. This fusion of Latin rhythms and trumpets, with a contagious, repetitive chorus (“Let the boy dance, let the boy dance) — sung by José Francisco Mendoza of Conjunto Nuevo Amanecer — is perfect for the dance floor, with “El Nene” as the central character, the life of the party.
The new track is part of an upcoming album that the DJ collective made up of Sergio Zavala (DJ Sheeqo Beat), Alberto Presenda (DJ Otto) and Erick Rincón plans to release soon, under the production of renowned Californian DJ Deorro — with whom they have recently shared the stage at festivals such as EDC in Las Vegas and Sueños in Chicago. — TERE AGUILAR
Alex Cuba & Bacilos, “No es de verdad” (Caracol Records)
Award-winning singer-songwriter Alex Cuba and tropipop band Bacilos join forces on “Nada Es De Verdad,” an upbeat song with a fresh sound that invites us to “let go of the drama, question excessive seriousness, and stop getting caught up in pointless arguments,” according to a press release. “Nothing is real, in every color there’s something imperfect/ Maybe seeing it this way tells us we’re awake,” says part of the infectious chorus.
“This collaboration was already written in the universe, but even I didn’t know it was meant to be,” Alex Cuba tells Billboard Español. “It’s been truly beautiful collaborating with Bacilos. They’re great people—everything has been so easy, so full of voices, so full of light, so full of good vibes.” Cuba adds that he met Bacilos’ leader Jorge Villamizar years ago at the Latin Grammys, and that when he wrote this song, he thought it would be perfect to record together. “Nada Es De Verdad” is a vibrant single perfect for a joyful start to the summer. — SIGAL RATNER-ARIAS
Silvana Estrada, “Como un Pájaro” (Glassnote Records/Altafonte)
Silvana Estrada releases her first song since 2023’s “Qué Problema,” and the first preview of the new album she plans to release this year, the follow-up to her 2022 Marchita. “Como un Pájaro” (Like a Bird) was written during the coronavirus pandemic, during a period of insomnia and loneliness following a breakup, the artist has said. Driven by guitars and produced by herself, it features a string arrangement by Roberto Verástegui performed by FAME’s Skopje Studio Orchestra in Macedonia that, accompanied by her poetic lyrics, creates an intimate and melancholic atmosphere while highlighting her seductive, virtuosic voice.
This new single is a beautiful introspective piece, “an ode to silence” and loneliness, and the result of the blend of immense talent, profound sensitivity and creative freedom that the Veracruz-born songwriter faithfully exercises in her music, which has made her one of the most moving and celebrated voices on the contemporary Latin scene. — NATALIA CANO
Check out more Latin recommendations this week below:
