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09 Aug 2023

Rihanna & Savage X Fenty Just Dropped a Sultry Maternity Line: Shop It Here

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.

Rihanna is proving pregnancy is sexy through Savage x Fenty’s new maternity collection, which is available to shop now. Rather than focus strictly on regular lingerie and undergarments, the apparel brand is expanding to include moms and moms-to-be with sultry options that are also breastfeeding-friendly.

The new line was announced on Tuesday (Aug. 8), via social media and features a photo of the pregnant 35-year-old singer breastfeeding 1-year-old son RZA in one of the lingerie brand’s new maternity bras, with the line featuring soft fabrics and stylish features.

“Not ur mama’s maternity bras…designed by @badgalriri, approved by baby RZA ?? #SavageXMaternity,” the caption on Instagram read followed by photos of the two modeling the maternity wear.

Keep reading to shop the new collection and visit the entire shop here.

black cotton maternity bralette

Savage x Fenty

Savage X Cotton Maternity Bralette

$44.95

Looking for an everyday bra? The cotton maternity bralette comes with a soft, breathable material that aims to be sensitive skin-friendly for added comfort. When it’s time to feed your child, the adjustable flap will open up to make breastfeeding as simple as a snap.

light purple lace maternity bralette

Savage X Fenty

Savage Not Sorry Lace Maternity Bralette

$49.95

Add some chicness to your maternity bra collection with this lace version that comes with similar features as its cotton predecessor. It comes in a gorgeous light purple shade and black, allowing you to stock up and feel sexy even when it’s time to give your baby their morning breakfast.

white and black t-shirt that reads

Savage X Fenty

Make More Graphic Tee

$59.95

Celebrate making babies with a shirt that encourages just that! This graphic T-shirt comes in an oversized fit you can easily pair with some maternity pants, leggings, jeans, bike shorts and more.

For more product recommendations, check out our roundups of the best SKIMS dupes, sticky bras and the best comfortable sandals.

09 Aug 2023

Taylor Swift Left Wonderstruck Over 8-Minute Standing Ovation at L.A. Eras Tour Show

Taylor Swift was definitely wonderstruck, blushing all the way home after her Tuesday (Aug. 8) concert. The pop star was left in awe in the middle of her fifth consecutive Eras Tour show at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, Calif., when, following her performance of “Champagne Problems,” the crowd rewarded her with a nearly eight-minute standing ovation.

“What do I say to you after that?” Swift said in response to the applause, as captured in videos from the night. “That was so deeply abnormal and beautiful. I don’t know what to do or say.” 

“I think it’s safe to say that I, like all people, will experience a certain amount of emotional downward spirals throughout the course of the rest of my life and in those moments, you can rest assured I’m gonna think about what you just did,” she continued, getting slightly emotional. “And I’m gonna feel better. So thank you. That was insane. It was crazy.” 

The show marked Swift’s second-to-last night at SoFi Stadium, where she’s scheduled for a total of six nights, concluding the first U.S. leg of the Eras Tour. Starting Aug. 24, she’ll take the trek global with a slew of international dates in Latin America, Asia, Australia and Europe before returning to the states in 2024 for a second North American leg.

“I’m going to spend several decades trying to figure out words for how that just made me feel,” Swift added after the night five standing “O.” “I’m trying to get it together. I’ve completely lost control over my brain, and that’s your fault. I’m just gonna float through the rest of the show, so thanks for that.”

The first five nights at SoFi have been jam-packed with great moments, from the magical “Exile” singalong to the emotional mid-show hug Swift shared with Bianka Bryant, daughter of the late Kobe Bryant. Fans have been treated to some quality surprise songs over the course of the miniature residency — “I Can See You,” “Maroon,” “Our Song,” “You Are in Love,” “Death by a Thousand Cuts,” “You’re On Your Own, Kid,” “Dress,” “I Know Places” and “King of My Heart” — and stars such as Lupita Nyong’o, Mindy Kaling, Brie Larson, Kesha, Gayle King and many, many more were in attendance.

Watch Taylor Swift react to her eight-minute standing ovation below:

09 Aug 2023

Travis Scott’s ‘Meltdown’ No. 1 as ‘Utopia’ Floods Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs Chart

Travis Scott storms to No. 1 on Billboard’s Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart as “Meltdown,” featuring Drake, launches atop the list dated Aug. 12. The track leads a parade of all 19 songs the streaming edition of Scott’s new Utopia album on the chart. The long-awaited parent set, first teased in 2020, debuts at No. 1 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart with the biggest week for any rap album in 2023, and gives Scott his third champ.

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“Meltdown,” released on Cactus Jack/Epic Records, traces its chart-topping start to 32.2 million official U.S. streams in the week ending Aug. 3, according to Luminate, more than enough to secure its No. 1 entrance on the R&B/Hip-Hop Streaming Songs chart. The tune also sold 2,000 copies in its debut week, prompting a No. 5 bow on the R&B/Hip-Hop Digital Song Sales list. For the third and final metric that informs Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs – radio airplay – the collaboration registered 8,000 audience impressions – well below the threshold of any R&B/hip-hop radio chart, though the song is not being promoted as a single for radio airplay. (“K-POP,” the pre-release track with Bad Bunny and The Weeknd, is the current radio focus.)

Thanks to “Meltdown,” Travis Scott achieves his sixth No. 1 on Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs. Here’s a recap of his now half-dozen leaders:

Song Title, Artist (if other than Travis Scott), Weeks at No. 1, Date Reached No. 1

  • “ZEZE,” Kodak Black featuring Travis Scott & Offset, one, Oct. 27, 2018
  • “Sicko Mode,” 10, Nov. 3, 2018
  • “Highest in the Room,” one, Oct. 19, 2019
  • “The Scotts,” with The Scotts & Kid Cudi, one, May 9, 2020
  • “Franchise,” featuring Young Thug & M.I.A., one, Oct. 10, 2020

Featured artist Drake, meanwhile, adds a record-extending 28th Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs No. 1 to his account. It’s his second visit to the summit in 2023, after his one-week champ “Search & Rescue,” likewise debuted at No. 1 in April. As Drake further distances himself from the competition, here’s a review of the acts with the most No. 1s on Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs since the chart became an all-encompassing genre survey in 1958:

  • 28, Drake
  • 20, Aretha Franklin
  • 20, Stevie Wonder
  • 17, James Brown
  • 16, Janet Jackson
  • 15, The Temptations
  • 13, Marvin Gaye
  • 13, Michael Jackson
  • 13, Usher
  • 11, Lil Wayne
  • 11, R. Kelly


https://youtube.com/watch?v=pz6P2vCF6tg&si=aTSVXHOIfbTiUFcw&version=3&rel=1&showsearch=0&showinfo=1&iv_load_policy=1&fs=1&hl=en-US&autohide=2&wmode=transparent

Behind “Meltdown,” Scott floods Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart as the entire 19-track Utopia album lands on the list, including five additional tracks in the top 10. Seventeen of the ranks go to debuts, with the lone exception being “K-POP,” which debuted at No. 2 last week.

Here’s the full Utopia recap on Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs this week:

  • No. 1, “Meltdown,” featuring Drake
  • No. 2, “FE!N,” featuring Playboi Carti
  • No. 5, “I Know ?”
  • No. 7, “Hyaena”
  • No. 9, “Thank God”
  • No. 10, “Topia Twins,” featuring Rob49 & 21 Savage
  • No. 11, “K-POP,” with Bad Bunny & The Weeknd
  • No. 12, “My Eyes”
  • No. 13, “Modern Jam,” featuring Teezo Touchdown
  • No. 14, “Delresto (Echoes),” with Beyoncé
  • No. 15, “Telekenesis,” featuring SZA & Future
  • No. 16, “Sirens”
  • No. 17, “God’s Country”
  • No. 18, “Skitzo,” featuring Young Thug
  • No. 19, “Circus Maximus,” featuring The Weeknd & Swae Lee
  • No. 20, “Til Futher Notice,” featuring James Blake & 21 Savage
  • No. 22, “Lost Forever,” featuring Westside Gunn
  • No. 23, “Looove,” featuring Kid Cudi
  • No. 24, “Parasail,” featuring Yung Lean & Dave Chappelle

The Scott show is much of the same on the all-genre Billboard Hot 100, where “Meltdown” opens at No. 3 as the highest Utopia track of the week. All 19 Utopia songs are present on the list as well, pushing Scott into the rare triple-digits club as he becomes the 15th act to surpass 100 career hits on the chart.

09 Aug 2023

Rodriguez, Subject of Oscar-Winning Doc ‘Searching For Sugar Man,’ Dies at 81

Enigmatic singer-songwriter Sixto Diaz Rodriguez — commonly referred to as just Rodriguez — has died at 81. The Detroit musician whose slow boil rise to international acclaim was chronicled in the Oscar-winning 2012 documentary Searching for Sugar Man, died on Tuesday night (Aug. 8) according to a statement on his official website.

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“It is with great sadness that we at Sugarman.org announce that Sixto Diaz Rodriguez has passed away earlier today,” read the note. “We extend our most heartfelt condolences to his daughters – Sandra, Eva and Regan – and to all his family.” According to the Detroit News, Rodriguez had been in declining health but at press time a cause of death had not been revealed.

The Dylan-esque folk singer recorded two albums in the early 1970s that were released to little notice, Cold Fact (1970) and Coming From Reality (1971), leading the aspiring troubadour to give up on his musical dream, start a family and pursue a philosophy degree as he unsuccessfully ran for a series of local poltical offices.

The News said after failed bids at mayor and state senate, Rodriguez could often be seen walking in Detroit’s Cass Corridor neighborhood with a guitar slung over his shoulder, with most onlookers unaware of his former musical aspirations. That changed in 1979 when he was invited to perform in Australia to celebrate the re-release of his albums; he toured there again in 1981. At the time, it was rumored that he had taken his life by shooting himself on stage (another false story claimed he’d died of a drug overdose) after releasing Coming From Reality on Detroit’s Sussex record label, a false report his absence only served to feed amid a bubbling popularity Down Under.

A decade later, he discovered that his music was even more influential in South Africa, where, unbeknownst to him, his psychedelic-tinged, wistful folk ruminations had become wildly popular among South African youth, who embraced them as anthems against the repressive, racist apartheid government. Though long retired from touring, Rodriguez booked some arena gigs in the nation in 1998 to rabid response and later saw his music re-discovered by artists such as DJ/producer David Holmes, who used Cold Shot‘s opening track, “Sugar Man” for his 2002 Come Get It, I Got It compilation alongside songs by Muddy Waters, The Staples Singers, Cyril Neville and Betty Adams. Nas sampled Rodriguez singing the chorus from “Sugar Man” on his 2001 Stillmatic song “You’re Da Man.”

The uptick in interest led to the re-issues of the albums and a world tour, a renaissance that was capped by the best documentary feature Oscar-winning 2012 film Searching for Sugar Man, which chronicled two fans’ journey to find out what happened to their favorite singer. In fact, it was those two Cape Town diehards, rock journalist Craig Bartholomew and Stephen “Sugar” Segerman, who would become the focus of the film thanks to their dogged search to find out what happened to their favorite musician.

“Like a lot of people here, I discovered Rodriguez while I was in the army, which every 18-year-old used to have to do,” Segerman told the Detroit paper in 2008. “He was on everyone’s cassette tapes. It’s great pop music. But you start to realize this is raw, brutally honest ― and that’s the chord it struck. I was in the army, but I didn’t want to be a soldier. I didn’t support apartheid. Raw, brutal honest had lots of appeal… I told him, ‘In South Africa, you’re bigger than Elvis.’”

Dave Matthews, who was born in Johannesburg, South Africa, met Rodriguez before playing Pine Knob in Clarkston, MI in 2022 and later praised him from the stage, telling the crowd that the singer was “one of my heroes growing up” in South Africa.

Rodriguez was born on July 10, 1942 in Detroit as the sixth child of Mexican immigrants. He began his career in 1967 with his debut single, “I’ll Slip Away,” followed by his signing to Sussex — a division of Buddah Records (Isley Brothers, Melanie, The Five Stairsteps) — which released his two albums.

His music earned comparisons to Dylan and Cat Stevens, who gentle 1970s folk anthems of love and understanding were tame compared to Rodriguez’s often more politically leaning lyrics. “Talking about the rich folks/ Rich folks have the same jokes/ And they park in basic places/ The priest is preaching/ From a shallow grave/ He counts his money/ Then he paints you saved,” he sang on the acid-tongue acoustic anthem “Rich Folks Hoax” from Cold Fact.

Both of his studio albums were re-issued by Light int he Attic in 2009 and the upswell in interest thanks to the film led him to perform with a full orchestra on The Late Show With David Letterman in 2012, as well as at the Coachella, Montreaux Jazz and Glastonbury festivals in 2013.

Listen to “Rich Folks Hoax” and watch Rodriguez on Letterman below.



09 Aug 2023

10 First-Timers on Billboard’s Charts This Week: Dylan Gossett, MCVERTT, Dennis Quaid, Flamy Grant & More

Billboard has more than 200 different weekly charts in its menu, encompassing numerous genres and formats.

While established artists often compete for a spot on the Billboard Hot 100 songs chart and Billboard 200 albums ranking, which track the most popular songs and albums of the week, respectively, up-and-coming talents typically start off on genre-specific lists.

Here’s a look at 10 acts who appear on surveys for the first time on the Aug. 12-dated charts.

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Dylan Gossett

The singer-songwriter enters Billboard’s charts for the first time with his new song “Coal.” The track, which he self-released July 27, debuts at No. 24 on Country Digital Song Sales with 1,000 downloads sold in its first full week of tracking, according to Luminate. Gossett has released one additional song so far, “To Be Free,” on June 30. Gossett rose to prominence through TikTok, where he boasts over 150,000 followers. He had been teasing “Coal” through acoustic snippets for weeks leading up to its official release. One such clip has garnered more than 5 million views on the platform.

MCVERTT

The New Jersey-based rapper and producer (real name Mohamed Camara) scores his first entry on Billboard’s charts under an artist billing, thanks to his new collaboration with recent First-Timer Sexyy Red and A$AP Ferg, “Face Down.” The song, released July 28 on 100% Pure/1865/Defiant/Warner Records, debuts at No. 3 on both the Rap Digital Song Sales and R&B/Hip-Hop Digital Song Sales charts, as well as No. 16 on the all-genre Digital Song Sales chart with 3,000 downloads sold in its first week (boosted by sped-up and slowed-down versions). “Face Up” interpolates 2 Live Crew’s classic 1990 song “Face Down, Ass Up,” which was also interpolated by Ludacris breakthrough 2000 hit with Shawnna, “What’s Your Fantasy.”

MCVERTT earned his first chart entry as a producer and songwriter in late 2022, as he co-produced and co-wrote Lil Uzi Vert’s “Just Wanna Rock” with Synthetic. The song spent three weeks at No. 1 on the Hot Rap Songs chart and reached No. 5 on Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs and No. 10 on the Hot 100. Its success help MCVERTT climb to No. 2 on both the Rap Songwriters and Rap Producers charts, plus No. 25 on Hot 100 Songwriters. MCVERTT has released one solo EP so far: the three-song President Obandman (along with sped-up and slowed-down versions of the set) in April.

Dennis Quaid

The actor is officially a Billboard-charting artist thanks to his new 12-track album, Fallen: A Gospel Record for Sinners. The set, released July 28 on Gaither Music Group/Capitol CMG, debuts at No. 15 on Top Christian Albums, No. 46 on Top Current Album Sales and No. 79 on Top Album Sales with 2,000 copies sold in its opening week. It contains a blend of original songs and covers of gospel standards “Amazing Grace,” “Just As I Am,” “I’ll Fly Away” and “The Lord’s Prayer.” Several of the tracks on the album were inspired by Quaid’s struggle with addiction, according to Gaither. “I’m grateful to still be here, I’m grateful to be alive really every day,” he recently told People about his struggles. “It’s important to really enjoy your ride in life as much as you can, because there’s a lot of challenges and stuff to knock it down.” Quaid has starred in numerous box office hits, including Any Given Sunday, The Day After Tomorrow, The Parent Trap, The Right Stuff and The Rookie.

Flamy Grant

The drag queen (real name Matthew Blake) arrives on Billboard’s charts for the first time with her breakthrough song “Good Day” featuring Derek Webb. Released in October via Glam & Glory Records on her debut studio album Bible Belt Baby, the cut debuts at No. 20 on the Christian Digital Song Sales chart. Grant is a self-described “shame-slaying, hip-swaying, singing-songwriting” drag queen making Christian music from her perspective as a queer person. After Christian singer and preacher Sean Feucht targeted Grant on Twitter with homophobic remarks, Grant began a campaign among her TikTok followers to get “Good Day” to chart. “It’s wild because the album is 10 months old,” Blake recently told Billboard. “I’m still in that touring phase, but this certainly brought it up to a level I did not anticipate 10 months into the release of this.” Blake developed their Flamy Grant persona, a play on Christian mainstay Amy Grant, during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020.

Ryan Jesse

The upstate New York native, now based in Nashville, reaches Billboard’s charts for the first time with his breakthrough song “Outrunning.” The track, which he self-released July 28, debuts at No. 5 on Hard Rock Digital Song Sales with 1,000 downloads sold in its opening week. TikTok has been a major factor in the song’s growing profile. Jesse, who has over 100,000 followers on the platform, had been teasing the song with various snippets leading up to its official release. Jesse has released four additional songs to date: “Like I Do” (in 2021), “Too Far Gone,” “This Damn Town” (both in 2022) and “You’re Tellin’ Me” (this March).

Yung Wylin’

The Miami-based artist, whose music blends hip-hop and Afrobeats elements, notches his first Billboard chart appearance with “Good Energy.” The song, which he self-released in December, debuts at No. 11 on the World Digital Song Sales chart and No. 45 on the U.S. Afrobeats Songs chart. TikTok has helped the track reach new heights, as it’s been used in more than 60,000 clips on the platform to date. Yung Wylin’ has released five other songs so far: “Shoot My Shot” (in 2020), “Wiin” (2021), “Smoke With Me” (2022), “My Girl,” with S.K and Soulsa (this May) and “The Way of Life” (this June).

Natalie Layne

The singer-songwriter, based in Nashville via Colorado Springs, Colo., hits Billboard’s charts for the first time with her breakout single “Amen.” Released July 14 via Centricity Music, the song debuts at No. 48 on Christian Airplay (up 48% to 106,000 in audience). It appears on her new six-track EP Amen, released July 28. Layne self-released her debut studio album, Be Human, in 2020, followed by the five-track EP Castles in 2021. She has opened for fellow Christian music acts Jeremy Camp, Chris Tomlin and We the Kingdom. Her major-label debut album (on Centricity) is due this year.

London Cheshire

The 16-year-old actor, model and singer makes his first visit to Billboard’s charts with his debut release “Uncomfortable.” The song, released July 28 through Blackground Records, begins at No. 35 on Digital Song Sales with 2,000 downloads sold in its first week. He also starts at No. 42 on the Emerging Artists chart. Cheshire has a recurring role in CBS’ Young Sheldon as Marcus Larson. His other credits include the series 9-1-1 and Gordita Chronicles.

SUM SUN

The New York-based DJ duo — comprised of Nick Benton and Ilan Pomerance — arrives on Billboard’s charts with its new collaboration with BONNIE X CLYDE, “Memory.” The song, released May 26 on the independent label Lowly, debuts at No. 34 on the Dance/Mix Show Airplay chart (up 30% in plays). In an interview with People in March, the pair said they’re working on their debut EP, due this year.

Hades66 & Dei V

Both Latin rappers reach Billboard’s charts for the first time with their team-up with Jay Wheeler, Anuel AA and Bryant Myers, “Pacto.” Released July 28 on Linked/Dynamite/EMPIRE, the single debuts at No. 29 on the Hot Latin Songs chart with 4.5 million official U.S. streams. The track is a remix of Wheeler, Dei V and Hades66’s original recording, featuring Luar La L, released in April. (All versions of the song are combined into one listing for Billboard’s charts.) The song is also building internationally, as it debuts at No. 168 on the Billboard Global 200 and No. 171 on Billboard Global Excl. U.S. Hades66 released his debut studio album, El 6EI66EI6, in April. Dei V dropped his debut LP, Yin Yang, in 2021.

09 Aug 2023

Brandon Lake Leads 2023 GMA Dove Awards Nominations: Full List

Brandon Lake is the top nominee for the 2023 GMA Dove Awards, sponsored by the Gospel Music Association. Lake received 11 nominations, including artist of the year, where he is competing with CeCe Winans, for KING + COUNTRY, Lauren Daigle and Phil Wickham. Winans won the award last year. For KING + COUNTRY and Daigle are both two-time winners in the category.

Lake has a co-writer credit on three of the 10 songs that were nominated for song of the year – “Fear Is Not My Future,” “Gratitude” and “Same God.”

Lake, 33, has won three Dove Awards. He has had two No. 1 hits on Billboard’s Hot Christian Songs chart – Elevation Worship’s “Graves Into Gardens,” on which he was featured, and his own “Gratitude.”

Other top nominees were songwriter Jeff Pardo with eight nods, and Jason Ingram and Kirk Franklin, with six nods each. New artist of the year finalist Katy Nichole received four nods — more than any other woman. She was followed by Daigle, Naomi Raine and Tasha Cobbs Leonard, each of whom received three nominations.

Country stars Dylan Scott, Tyler Childers and Walker Hayes each received their first nominations.

“I want to congratulate his year’s wonderful list of Dove Awards nominees, GMA president Jackie Patillo said in a statement.

Nominees were announced in a livestream on the GMA Dove Awards’ YouTube channel featuring Jason Crabb, Jordan Feliz, Danny Gokey, Natalie Grant and JJ Hairston. Final-round voting will run from Aug. 17-24.

The two-hour awards show will tape in Nashville on Tuesday Oct. 17 and will air exclusively on TBN and the TBN app three nights later, on Friday Oct. 20, at 8 p.m. ET and again at 10 p.m. ET.

The 54th Annual GMA Dove Awards are produced by the Gospel Music Association. Jackie Patillo and Justin Fratt serve as showrunners and executive producers, alongside Curtis Stoneberger and Paul Wright as producers. Russell E. Hall returns as director, Michael Nolan as scriptwriter, Scott Moore and Go Live Productions as production manager.

Here’s the full list of categories that were announced on today’s livestream. For a complete list of nominees in all categories, visit doveawards.com.

Artist of the year
Brandon Lake
CeCe Winans
for KING + COUNTRY
Lauren Daigle
Phil Wickham

New artist of the year
Ben Fuller
Hulvey
Jon Reddick
Katy Nichole
Naomi Raine

Song of the year
“Build A Boat,” writers: Colton Dixon, Seth Mosley, Johan Lindbrandt, Sandro
Cavazza, Mikey Gormley
“Fear Is Not My Future,” writers: Kirk Franklin, Brandon Lake, Jonathan Jay,
Hannah Shackleford, Nicole Hannel
“God Really Loves Us,” writers: David Crowder, Ben Glover, Jeff Sojka, Dante
Bowe
“Goodness of God,” writers: Ben Fielding, Ed Cash, Jason Ingram, Jenn
Johnson, Brian Johnson
“Gratitude,” writers: Brandon Lake, Ben Hastings, Dante Bowe
“In Jesus Name (God of Possible),” writers: Ethan Hulse, Katy Nichole, David
Andrew Spencer, Jeff Pardo
“Love Me Like I Am,” writers: Joel Smallbone, Luke Smallbone, Michael
Pollack, Josh Kerr
 “Perfectly Loved,” writers: Rachael Lampa, Andrew Ripp,
Ethan Hulse
“Same God,” writers: Brandon Lake, Steven Furtick, Chris Brown, Pat Barrett
“Then Christ Came,” writers: Bart Millard, Phil Wickham, Jason Ingram, David
Leonard

Pop/contemporary recorded song of the year
“Brighter Days” – Blessing Offor
“I’m So Blessed (Best Day Remix)” – CAIN
“Love Me Like I Am” – for KING + COUNTRY ft. Jordin Sparks
 “God Is in This Story” – Katy Nichole ft. Big Daddy Weave
 “Thank God I Do” – Lauren Daigle

Worship recorded song of the year
“Gratitude (Radio Version)” – Brandon Lake
“Honey in the Rock” – Brooke Ligertwood, Brandon Lake
“Holy Forever” – Chris Tomlin
“Fear Is Not My Future (Radio Version)” – Maverick City Music ft. Brandon
Lake, Chandler Moore
“This Is Our God” – Phil Wickham

Bluegrass/country/roots recorded song of the year
“Jordan” – Darin & Brooke Aldridge, ft. Ricky Skaggs, Mo Pitney, Mark Fain
“Good Morning Mercy” – Jason Crabb, Dylan Scott
“Matchless” – Tiffany Coburn, ft. Point of Grace
“Way of the Triune God (Hallelujah Version)” – Tyler Childers
“Jesus’ Fault” – Zach Williams, ft. Walker Hayes

Spanish language recorded song of the year
“Guarda Tu Corazón” – Alex Zurdo
“So Good (Cuán Bueno)” – DOE, ft. Lilly Goodman
“Nubes” – Indiomar, ft. Blanca
“Coritos (En Vivo)” – Miel San Marcos, Daniel Calveti, Marcos Witt, Ingrid
Rosario
“Suelto” – Sarai Rivera

Gospel worship recorded song of the year
“One Name (Jesus) [Live]” – Naomi Raine
“Impossible” – Pastor Mike Jr., ft. Jame Fortune
“I Still Have You” – Smokie Norful
“The Moment (Live)” – Tasha Cobbs Leonard
 “You’ve Been Good to Me” –  Zacardi Cortez

Contemporary gospel recorded song of the year
“New Day” – Blanca, ft. Jekalyn Carr
“Your World” – Jonathan McReynolds
“Miracles” – Kierra Sheard, ft. Pastor Mike Jr.
“Bless Me” – Maverick City Music, Kirk Franklin
“Get Up” – Tye Tribbett

Pop/contemporary album of the year
My Tribe – Blessing Offor
Jesus Changed My Life – Katy Nichole
Always Only Jesus – MercyMe
Life After Death – TobyMac
A Hundred Highways – Zach Williams

Worship album of the year
Come Up Here – Bethel Music
Honest Offering (Live) – CAIN
God Is Good! (Live) – Cody Carnes
LION: Live From the Loft – Elevation Worship
Lamb of God – Matt Redman

Southern gospel album of the year
Think About There – Greater Vision
Come on In – Guardians Quartet
John 3:16 – Perrys
Believe – The Hoppers
Hymns & Worship – Triumphant Quartet

Contemporary gospel album of the year
My Truth – Jonathan McReynolds
Kingdom Book One (Deluxe) – Maverick City Music, Kirk Franklin
Impossible – Pastor Mike Jr.
Overcomer (Deluxe) – Tamela Mann
All Things New – Tye Tribbett

Rap/hip hop album of the year
Church Clothes 4 – Lecrae
Sunday in Lagos – Limoblaze
Everyone Loves a Comeback Story – Social Club Misfits
Tree – Steven Malcolm
NEW HOLLYWOOD – WHATUPRG

Feature film of the year
Big George Foreman
Family Camp
I Heard the Bells
Jesus Revolution
Remember Me: The Mahalia Jackson Story

09 Aug 2023

#BRUHNews: Bianca Censori Fed Up With Kanye West’s Body Odor, Allegedly

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Celebrity Sightings In Los Angeles - May 13, 2023

Source: MEGA / Getty

Looks like Kanye West might be keeping things a little too funky for his current wife, Bianca Censori, and we’re not talking about his attitude.

According to RadarOnline, Bianca Censori seems to have an issue with Kanye West’s personal hygiene. The “Black Skinhead” rapper’s body odor is becoming a problem for her sensitive olfactory receptors, which let her brain know, “this foo kickin!” While she may not have a problem with it during the winter season, the summer months have proven to be an issue as Kanye’s been walking around with extra layers of clothing for a few reasons.

RadarOnline reports:

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“He wears these outfits partly because he genuinely believes they showcase his fashion genius and forward-thinking,” said a source. “But it’s also to cover him having gained a little weight.”

Another source added, “It’s a serious stench when the layers come off and he’s dripping in sweat head to toe — especially as he’s not big on showering — and poor Bianca’s nostrils are on the receiving end.”

The funky Yeezy mogul, 46, was recently seen in Italy covered in a head wrap, a double layer of shirts, loose pants, and tight Spandex wraps.

“He’s got to be cooking under those layers,” blabbed another source. “His BO is something awful since he rarely uses deodorant.”

Kanye’s body odor is just more proof that global warming is getting out of control, b.

Though Censori put up with the funk in the beginning of the relationship, it seems like it’s just getting on her nerves at this point. Don’t be surprised if she cuts her losses and jumps ship a la Kim Kardashian who also noticed her ex-hubby’s distinct smell.

“In the beginning, Kanye’s mode of dressing was an enigma. Now it’s just a stink,” a source told the National Enquirer, who added West’s ex-wife Kim Kardashian didn’t like it either. “Kim got used to the smell — but only after years of torture.”

Maybe Kanye should give up the fashion side of things and invest in Yeezy deodorant for the Biblical man or something. Just sayin’.

What do y’all think? Sound off in the comments section below.

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09 Aug 2023

Universal, Google Reportedly in Licensing Talks About AI Voice Cloning

Universal Music Group is in the early stages of talks with Google about licensing artists’ voices for songs created by artificial intelligence, according to The Financial Times. Warner Music Group has also discussed this possibility, The Financial Times reported.

Advances in artificial-intelligence-driven technology have made it relatively easy for a producer sitting at home to create a song involving a convincing facsimile of a superstar’s voice — without that artist’s permission. Hip-hop super-fans have been using the technology to flesh out unfinished leaks of songs from their favorite rappers. 

One track in particular grabbed the industry’s attention in March: “Heart On My Sleeve,” which masqueraded as a new collaboration between Drake and the Weeknd. At the time, a Universal Music spokesperson issued a statement saying that “stakeholders in the music ecosystem” have to choose “which side of history… to be on: the side of artists, fans and human creative expression, or on the side of deep fakes, fraud and denying artists their due compensation.” 

“In our conversations with the labels, we heard that the artists are really pissed about this stuff,” Geraldo Ramos, co-founder and CEO of the music technology company Moises, told Billboard recently. (Moises has developed its own AI-driven voice-cloning technology, along with the technology to detect whether a song clones someone else’s voice.) “How do you protect that artist if you’re a label?” added Matt Henninger, Moises’ vp of sales and business development.

The answer is probably licensing: Develop a system in which artists who are fine with having their voices cloned clear those rights — in exchange for some sort of compensation — while those acts who are uncomfortable with being replicated by technology can opt out. Just as there is a legal framework in place that allows producers to sample 1970s soul, for example, by clearing both the master and publishing rights, in theory there could be some sort of framework through which producers obtain permission to clone a superstar’s voice.

AI-driven technology could “enable fans to pay their heroes the ultimate compliment through a new level of user-driven content,” Warner CEO Robert Kyncl told financial analysts this week. (“There are some [artists] that may not like it,” he continued, “and that’s totally fine.”)

On the same investor call, Kyncl also singled out “one of the first official and professionally AI-generated songs featuring a deceased artist, which came through our ADA Latin division:” A new Pedro Capmany track featuring AI-generated vocals from his father Jose, who died in 2001. “After analyzing hundreds of hours of interviews, acappellas, recorded songs, and live performances from Jose’s career, every nuance and pattern of his voice was modeled using AI and machine learning,” Kyncl explained. 

After the music industry’s initial wave of alarm about AI, the conversation has shifted, according to Henninger. With widely accessible voice-cloning technology available, labels can’t really stop civilians from making fake songs accurately mimicking their artists’ vocals. But maybe there’s a way they can make money from all the replicants.

Henninger is starting to hearing different questions around the music industry. “How can [AI] be additive?” he asks. “How can it help revenue? How can it build someone’s brand?”

Reps for Universal and Warner did not respond to requests for comment.

09 Aug 2023

Pregnant Rihanna Breastfeeds Son RZA in Savage x Fenty Campaign Photos

This just in: Rihanna looks glamorous even while breastfeeding. In a new photo shoot for Savage x Fenty’s new maternity line, the 35-year-old singer shows off her baby bump while holding her 1-year-old son, whom she shares with A$AP Rocky. She wears just a simple black bra, which boasts cups that open up for breastfeeding access, as demonstrated in the photos by little RZA.

“Not ur mama’s maternity bras…,” the company captioned the photos on Instagram. “designed by @badgalriri, approved by baby RZA ??”

It’s definitely not the first time Ri has modeled her Savage x Fenty clothing while pregnant — just last month, she posed in a shoot for the brand’s new sheer lingerie — but this is her company’s debut functional maternity line. It follows a series of red carpet and streetwear fashion moments from the “Rude Boy” singer that defied the traditional expectations for pregnancy clothing, proving to the world how stylish, sexy and fun women can still dress while they’re expecting.

Rihanna — who is expecting her second child with the rapper — founded Savage x Fenty in 2018, the year after she launched her Fenty Beauty company. Shortly after celebrating Savage’s five-year anniversary in May, she stepped down as CEO from the lingerie brand, remaining on as an executive chairman.

In recent months, Ri has made trips to France — for Paris Fashion Week, supporting Pharell’s debut as Louis Vuitton’s head of men’s fashion — as well as her home country of Barbados, where she and her soon-to-be family of four enjoyed some beach time together. At one point, she shared a photo of Rocky holding RZA in front of palm trees, the picturesque sunset reflecting on the water, which she lovingly captioned: “my Bajan boyz…”

See the photos from the maternity shoot below:

09 Aug 2023

Melle Mel Fires Back At Eminem Diss, The Culture Doesn’t Approve

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Melle Mel is unquestionably a legend of Hip-Hop music and that can’t be denied by anyone who claims to uphold the values of the culture. That said, Melle Mel is a rapper of a certain era but his attempt to diss Eminem didn’t seem to have the effect he was going for.

For context, Melle Mel took several swings at Eminem during interviews over the years, and the Detroit rapper misses nothing when it comes to his name. While Eminem has said repeatedly that he realizes he’s a guest in Hip-Hop culture as a white rapper, he does respond to the disrespect hurled his way when he can.

Eminem fired at Melle Mel during his featured verse on the remix for new Shady Records and Aftermath signee Ez Mil’s “Realest” track and we’ll share the lines below.

From “The Realest”:

Shout to the Furious Five and Grandmaster Flash but boy (What up doe)/There’s someone who really is furious stay out his path his wrath avoid/And I’ll be the last to toy with a juice head whose brain is like half destroyed/Like a meteor hit it well there went Melle Mel we lost his ass to roids (Damn)

Mel most recently jabbed at Eminem during an interview on The Art of Dialogue where he slightly praised the rapper’s skill but said he’s only selling units because he’s white. Eminem has faced similar criticism before from the likes of Lord Jamar of Brand Nubian fame among others.

As it stands, Melle Mel’s new diss track hasn’t been met with much approval although some on social media, most especially X, are saluting the Hip-Hop originator for his effort.

Check out the reactions below.



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Photo: Getty