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01 Aug 2023

Ulta’s 72-Hour Sale Has Arrived: Shop the 8 Best Beauty Deals 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.

Ulta Beauty has given us an early Black Friday with a 72-hour sale going on now. Right now, you can score up to 50% off everything from refillable lipsticks, powder foundation, skincare essentials and even perfume.

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The sale is going on until Thursday (Aug. 3) meaning these slashed prices won’t be around forever. Whether you’re looking to replace that empty tube of TikTok viral mascara or want to snag some new beauty products for a fraction of the price, this is your sign to do it.

Rather than scroll through the site looking for the best deals, we went through the bestselling products and gathered together a few of the best Ulta sales you can score.

Keep reading to shop our picks below.

yellow and pink bottle of bronzing foam

Ulta Beauty

Coco & Eve Sunny Honey Bali Bronzing Foam

$24.50 $35 30% off% OFF

Get that sun-kissed glow without the sun damage thanks to Coco & Eve’s bronzing foam. The lightweight formula aims to glide onto your skin leaving behind a natural looking glow just in time for your beach getaway.

orange eyeshadow palette with nude and brown shades

Ulta Beauty

Morphe 9T Neutral Territory Artistry Palette

$9.10 $13 30% off% OFF

Whether you’re going out on the town or just meeting a friend for coffee, make sure you’re stocked up on all the neutral tones. Morphe’s eyeshadow palette is currently under $10 and comes with a mix of matte and glittery shades for you to mix and play with.

white bottle of hair mask

Ulta Beauty

Olaplex No.8 Bond Intense Moisture Mask

$21 $30 30% off% OFF

Even you hair deserves some spa treatment and Olaplex’s hair mask is ready to give your strands a boost of hydration. Whether you have treated, damaged or dry hair, this formula will act as a drink of water resulting in strands that are more nourished than before.

silver makeup brush

Ulta Beauty

IT Cosmetics Airbrush Blurring Foundation Brush

$18.20 $26 30% off% OFF

Need a new brush? This foundation makeup brush is an Ulta exclusive and comes with a fluffy head, which will make blending and application as simple as a swipe of your wrist. Plus, it’s currently 30% off!

bottle of primer with gold cap

Ulta Beauty

Stila One Step Correct Brightening & Correcting Primer

$25.20 $36 30% off% OFF

For a versatile tool, Stila’s primer will prep you skin through a formula created to even your skin tone and help you makeup stay in place all day long.

white and blue bottle of face cleanser

Ulta Beauty

La Roche-Posay Toleriane Hydrating Gentle Face Cleanser

$15.19 $18.99 20% off% OFF

Upgrade your skincare routine with this gentle face cleanser. The ingredients are sensitive skin-friendly and feature a formula that’ll help nourish and hydrate those prone to dry skin.

glitter lip gloss

Ulta Beauty

KIKO Milano 3D Hydra Lipgloss

$9.10 $13 30% off% OFF

Glossy lips are just a click away! KIKO Milano’s lipgloss is a bestselling pick that comes in a variety of colors you can stock up on — especially since it’s under $10 right now. Plus, the ingredients will not only add subtle color to your lips, but will help keep them moisturized, too.

clear and yellow perfume bottle

Ulta Beauty

“VACATION” by Vacation Eau de Toilette

$39 $60 35% off% OFF

Reviewers are obsessed with the Vacation perfume as it currently sits at a 4.4 rating and has notes that’ll have you living that summer vibe all year long. Both you and those who catch a whiff of this intoxicating fragrance will smell scents of coconut, banana, pineapple and orange blossom.

For more product recommendations, check out our roundups of the best sunscreen, press-on nails and TikTok beauty dupes.

01 Aug 2023

Signed: ‘One Margarita’ Singer Gets Giant Label Deal, Ez Mil Links With Eminem & Dr. Dre

That Chick Angel, the performance alias of Angel Laketa Moore, signed to the Azoff Company label Giant Music, which just released the music video for her TikTok-driven single, “One Margarita (Margarita Song).” Moore is also an actress, host, influencer and comedian who is currently on tour with her husband, TankDontTok, for their podcast, Is This Going to Cause an Argument. She’s represented by Realm Talent and Framework Entertainment.

Las Vegas singer/songwriter/producer/rapper Ez Mil signed to Shady Records/Aftermath Entertainment/Interscope Records. On August 11, he’s set to drop DU4LI7Y: REDUX, a deluxe edition of his 2022 album DU4LI7Y which will mark his final release on Virgin Music. The new edition will include “Realest,” a new single featuring Eminem. “I heard Ez’s music and was like, ‘this is really special” so I took it to Dre,” said Eminem in a statement. “We both agreed it would be a great fit and we wanted to work with him right on the spot.” Dr. Dre added, “I’m really only interested in working on s— that sounds different from anything else going on out there, and only then if I feel I can really bring something to it. Em played me Ez and I had that feeling…that thing that happens when we both know we’ve found something special.”

Chicago rapper/singer/songwriter Calvin “Calboy” Woods is set to release Unchained, his first album project under his own newly-established label, Loyalty N Company, with distribution through Create Music. The label is described in a press release as “representing his independence and emancipation from the shackles of RCA Records,” Calboy’s former label. The first single off the new set, “On My Own,” was released Friday (July 28).

Independent digital distributor IDOL signed global artist services deals with Nigerian afropop artist Yemi Alade via her own record company, Effyzzie Music, as well as London-based afrowave artist and Capital Xtra DJ Afro B. Alade will work with IDOL on the release of her forthcoming seventh studio album later this year, while Afro B will release several singles leading up to the release of his fourth album set to drop in 2024. Under the agreements, IDOL will handle worldwide digital distribution for all upcoming releases for both artists while also working with the artist teams on strategy, global marketing, international coordination, audience development and channel management.

Dance music agency The Gongaware Group signed DJ/producer and BBC Radio 1 Dance Party host Danny Howard. Gongaware will focus on expanding Howard’s DJ career in North and South America; he currently has residencies at Amnesia Ibiza and BCM in Mallorca, Spain. Howard serves as label head at record company Nothing Else Matters in the United Kingdom.

Old Man Canyon, a psych-pop project from Vancouver singer/songwriter/multi-instrumentalist Jeff Pace, signed to Nettwerk, which released his latest single, “Never Apart,” on July 21. The track will be included on Old Man Canyon’s forthcoming EP, So Long Babylon, which is set for release on September 29.

Canadian pop singer/songwriter Alex Sampson (“Play Pretend”) signed to Warner Records, which released his latest single, “Want You!”, on Friday (July 28). Sampson is managed by Jesse Beer at The MGMT Company.

San Francisco Bay Area alt-pop group Finish Ticket signed with Better Noise Music, which released their latest single, “Changing,” on July 21. The group is represented by Tony Couch at C3 Management and Andrew Buck at Wasserman. Their previous label was Atlantic Records.

Singer/songwriter Jordana Bryant signed with CAA for booking representation. Bryant is signed to Riser House and is aligned with Jonas Group Entertainment for management. Bryant’s upcoming single, “Best Friend,” releases August 11, and she will be touring the United States opening shows for the music trio Girl Named Tom. – Jessica Nicholson

Los Angeles coldwave/post-punk trio Sextile signed to Sacred Bones, which will release the group’s forthcoming album, Push, on September 15. Sextile dropped their latest single, “New York,” on July 25. The band is represented by booking agent Natasha Parish at Grand Control Touring in the United States; they were previously signed to record label Felte.

Queer dance-pop artist Lynks signed to Heavenly Recordings, which released his latest single, “Use It Or Lose It,” on Wednesday (July 26). He is represented by manager Chris Bellam at underplay and booking agent Adele Slater at Wasserman outside the United States. His publisher is Domino Publishing.

Global entertainment brand Superplastic expanded into music with the announcement of its new label, Superplastic Records (distributed by Virgin Music), as well as the signing of Ghost Kidz, a “3D animated hip-hop duo” (comprised of Lil’ ILL and Filth-E) that is “voiced by two prominent hip-hop artists” who have chosen to remain anonymous, according to a press release. The music video for the duo’s single, “Goin’ Off” featuring Vince Staples, was played at Rolling Loud Miami last month. Prior to the label’s announcement, Superplastic’s previous artist collaborations included Staples, J. Balvin and Gorillaz.

Country singer/songwriter Tyler Chambers signed with Play It Again Entertainment for exclusive label representation. Play It Again released Chambers’ latest single, “Loves Me Like a Small Town,” on July 21. Play It Again’s Alyssa Ramsey is currently acting as Chambers’ management; he is signed to Warner Chappell Music for publishing.

Singer/songwriter/guitarist Jesse Ahern singed to Dummy Luck Music/[PIAS], which will release his forthcoming album, Roots Rock Rebel, on September 15. Dummy Luck is the Dropkick Murphys‘ record label. Ahern is represented by Jeff Castelaz and Benton Oliver at Cast Management, booking agent Larry Webman at Wasserman for the United States and booking agent Ed Sellers at Primary Talent Agency for the United Kingdom and Europe.

01 Aug 2023

Cardi B Twerks on Husband Offset to Their Song ‘Jealousy’ in Sky-High Las Vegas Infinity Pool

Cardi B put her classic spin on the party mantra “what happens in Vegas stays in Vegas” in an Instagram video from her recent trip to Sin City. But in Cardi’s case, the clip uploaded on Monday (July 31) is for all the world to see and, man, is it some textbook Vegas foolishness.

In the clip cued to her and husband Offset‘s new single, “Jealousy,” the happy couple enjoy some alone time in what looks like a penthouse hotel suite complete with a private infinity pool overlooking the Strip. The majority of the video consists of Cardi twerking in a red thong bikini on her husband in the pool as he pretends to smack her behind and shows off his grillz.

Cardi takes a break at one point to have a smoke and flip the bird to the camera, while Offset does a set of pull-ups on the railing and pulls off a daredevil stunt in which he balances on the edge of the glass wall surrounding the pool.

The video finds the couple all-smiles after ‘Set recently revealed in a Way Up With Yee show that no, his wife didn’t cheat on him, despite what he alleged in a quickly deleted Instagram Story in June. Shortly after he posted it, Cardi shut down the accusations on Twitter Spaces, but public concerns over their relationship still lingered.

“So that post, to be honest, me and her, that’s my wife, I love her to death,” he said in explaining drama that stemmed from an argument the couple had behind-the-scenes. “We going back and forth. And if you’ve got a New York woman, you know she’s a pit bull at the mouth.”

“She get crazy at the mouth a little bit, and I was really lit that night,” he added, noting that he’d been drinking a generous amount of tequila at the time. “We was going back and forth and I’m like, ‘Watch this.’ And it’s like she got a crazy mouth, but I love my wife at the end of the day and she crazy, man … We’re crazy for each other.”

The hotel private dance was also a bit of sunshine in an otherwise rough few days following a weekend show during which Cardi launched her microphone at a fan who tossed a drink on the rapper at a show on Saturday at Drai’s Beachclub. The Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department confirmed to Billboard on Monday that an individual filed a police report on Sunday alleging battery. The police did not mention Cardi (born Belcalis Marlenis Almánzar), 30, by name, but the location of the alleged incident matched the address of the venue where the rapper performed.

Check out the couple’s Vegas video below.

01 Aug 2023

Olivia Rodrigo Unveils ‘Guts’ Tracklist: ‘All American B—h,’ ‘Get Him Back’ & More Song Titles

After sending fans into a clue-finding frenzy, Olivia Rodrigo has now ended their suffering by at last unveiling the official tracklist to her upcoming sophomore album, Guts.

In a second teaser video Tuesday (Aug. 1) — which followed one day after Rodrigo shared a mysterious clip filled with hidden song titles for fans to decode — the 20-year-old pop star revealed that her September-slated record will include a total of 12 tracks. In the video, she taps out all one dozen of the titles using a vintage typewriter, unveiling thought-provoking song names like “all american b—h,” “get him back,” “pretty isn’t pretty” and “love is embarrassing.”

Per the video, Guts is a completely solo album — meaning there’s no Lana Del Rey collaboration this time, as many fans had speculated.

A seconds-long snippet of one of the unreleased songs slowly gets louder and louder throughout the video, which also features other potential clues — maybe hinting some of the album’s lyrics, or possibly nodding to which song will follow “vampire” as the next single. For instance, Rodrigo can be seen sorting through letters addressed to “get him back” drive as she uses cans of Coke to curl her hair. She also browses a selection of books with titles like “how to always pick the wrong one,” “manifesting a text back” and “love is embarrassing.”

But that’s all the “drivers license” singer has to share for now, other than an excited reminder of when Guts will arrive: “SEPTEMBER 8TH!!!!!! ????????” she captioned the tracklist reveal.

See the full Guts tracklist and Olivia’s video below:

  1. all american b—h
  2. bad idea right?
  3. vampire
  4. lacy
  5. ballad of a homeschooled girl
  6. making the bed
  7. logical
  8. get him back
  9. love is embarassing
  10. the grudge
  11. pretty isn’t pretty
  12. teenage dream

01 Aug 2023

How Sexyy Red Is Rewriting Rap’s Playbook: ‘People Think I’m Crazy But I’m Just Myself’

Sexyy Red isn’t concerned with chasing hits. “I’m not even trying,” she tells Billboard over Zoom. “You just gotta be yourself and then they gonna f–k with you.” 

She’s living proof: the 25-year-old (born Janae Wherry) is currently enjoying a breakout year thanks to her sexually explicit, Tay Keith-produced “Pound Town.” Since the trap single arrived in January, Sexyy Red has formed bonds with some of R&B and hip-hop’s biggest names, befriending Travis Scott and Drake (the latter has posted a picture with her on Instagram, and Sexyy Red has teased music together), and collaborating with Summer Walker and Nicki Minaj.

Her “Pound Town 2” remix with Minaj dropped in late May and became Sexyy Red’s first entry on the Billboard Hot 100 the following month, debuting at No. 66. Still, she remains blasé toward her A-list interactions. “I already know I’m a cool, f–k-witable person,” she says.

It’s not surprising that the St. Louis native has maintained her nonchalant attitude amid her rise. After all, it’s what helped put her on the map: According to co-manager Caprie Poe — who is also general manager at Miami-based label Rebel Music — Sexyy Red first caught the attention of an A&R rep at the label in 2021 with her 2018 single “Free Smoke.” “[She] was super raw and authentic,” says Poe. “She always says what’s on her mind.” Case in point: the “Pound Town” lyric that has taken the internet by storm (“I’m out of town, thuggin’ with my rounds/My c–chie pink, my booty h–e brown”).

Sexyy Red photographed by Devin Christopher on July 24, 2023 in Miami.

Cartier eyewear from Spencer Shapiro.

Devin Christopher

The rapper signed to Rebel Music and released her debut project, Ghetto Superstar, that December to local acclaim. But co-manager and Rebel Music founder/CEO Javier “Jay” Sang says the team was dedicated to growing her national audience: “We treat Sexyy Red as a 24-hour, seven-days-a-week business.”

Their strategy paid off last fall, when they encouraged Sexyy Red to follow up with Tay Keith (who she was acquainted with), leading the Grammy-nominated producer to send her the beat to what became “Pound Town.” Soon after, she was freestyling about a sexcapade with an ex-boyfriend during a Miami studio session. She remembers laughing with her friends throughout — but her team was more earnest. “They was like, ‘You playing on this man’s beat,’” she says. “I’m like, ‘Ain’t nobody trying to be serious all the time.’ Finally, they [said], ‘I understand your vision.’” 

By February, she released a music video inspired by the reality show Cheaters, followed by a Miami spring break edition of the clip in March. The track has also found success on TikTok having been used in over 250,000 clips. There’s even a mashup of the song called “Frontin’ x Pound Town Simmy Mix,” where Chicago native DJ Simmy overlaid Red’s vocals on Pharrell and Jay-Z’s “Frontin’” beat. But the original song needed a final push to become a hit.

Sexyy Red photographed by Devin Christopher on July 24, 2023 in Miami.

Sexyy Red photographed July 24, 2023 in Miami.

Devin Christopher

Sexyy Red and Caprie Poe photographed by Devin Christopher on July 24, 2023 in Miami.

From left: Sexyy Red and co-manager Caprie Poe photographed July 24, 2023 in Miami. Cartier eyewear from Spencer Shapiro.

Devin Christopher

Around the same time, industry veteran Larry Jackson launched Gamma — a media company specializing in distribution, creative guidance, marketing and more — and signed Sexyy Red while building a roster that includes Snoop Dogg and Usher. (Sexyy Red also remains signed to Rebel Music.) “She immediately became a priority,” says Sang. “I know Larry for moving mountains and he was like, ‘What do you think about Nicki on the record?’ It was a no-brainer.”

As the song continues to grow, Sexyy Red knows that it’ll “never get old,” but is ready for people to start focusing on her other music. “SkeeYee,” another Tay Keith-produced track — and popular greeting call in St. Louis — on her June mixtape Hood Hottest Princess, has been gaining momentum of late.

This summer has also included a Rolling Loud performance, and soon, a few opening slots for Moneybagg Yo on tour. She’ll eventually embark on her first headlining trek, with dates and locations yet to be announced, but for now, she’s letting her team handle her business affairs. “I’m just the artist and they do what they do to make it happen for me,” she admits. “They ain’t trying to stress me out because I don’t even want to deal with no s–t like that.”

Instead, she’s focusing on what she does best: releasing one salacious, unapologetic song at a time, she says. “People think I’m crazy, but I feel like I’m just myself.”

Sexyy Red photographed by Devin Christopher on July 24, 2023 in Miami.

Sexyy Red photographed July 24, 2023 in Miami.

Devin Christopher

A version of this story will appear in the Aug. 5, 2023, issue of Billboard.

01 Aug 2023

Teddy Geiger Prepares to Embrace ‘the Truest Version’ of Herself on ‘Teresa’: Exclusive

Back in 2019, a little over a year into her transition, singer-songwriter Teddy Geiger decided to spend three months in Madrid reconnecting with herself. Visiting friends and family, Geiger wanted an escape from her life in Los Angeles and a chance to reflect on all the change the last year of her life had brought.

It didn’t take long for that period of reflection to fuel Geiger’s inspiration, leading to a series of songwriting sessions while on vacation. “I had a little makeshift setup at the kitchen table for recording with a guitar and a bandurria,” Geiger tells Billboard. “I was stepping into being seen as female in the world, and this allowed me to take the time to express that.”

The result of that three-month Spanish sojourn is Teresa, Geiger’s upcoming sophomore LP under her solo moniker teddy<3>

Where Geiger’s debut album as teddy<3>LillyAnna, widened its scope to encompass myriad ideas and genres, Teresa thrives in its cohesion. Soaked in luscious dream-pop soundscapes that smoothly transition from one track to the next, the forthcoming album soundtracks an artist fully immersing herself in a distinct persona.

As Geiger tells it, that was largely the point; every part of Teresa, from its production to its title, lends itself to a specific vision of herself. “Teresa became the truest version of myself,” Geiger says. “I started writing the name on the shower wall and using that as a reminder to say, ‘Okay, there’s this essential person in me that I want to feel connected to and be able to express fully.’”

The name itself came from an innocuous interaction with a stranger on the streets of Spain in 2019 — when Geiger told them that her name was Teddy, they immediately mistook her name for “Terri,” thinking it was short for Teresa. “We went back and forth for a minute, and eventually I was just like, ‘You know what? Yeah. I like that,’” she says.



A clear-cut example of the existentialist songwriting Geiger explores throughout Teresa is “Never Enough,” the project’s second single debuting exclusively on Billboard. Over a relentless guitar line that slowly devolves into a hypnotic pop beat, Geiger’s faded voice ponders at what point she’ll finally reach satisfaction with what she has.

“I remember being really fixated on the idea of wondering when enough is actually enough,” Geiger says of the new song. “Once you have a little bit of something, it’s never quite enough; when the show has been binged, you want more of it. You’re always left feeling like there’s something lacking, unless you can come to peace with the feeling itself.”

Much like the rest of the songs written on Teresa, “Never Enough” comes from a place within Geiger that she doesn’t often get to access. For the last decade, Geiger largely made her living as a sought-after songwriter in the industry, known primarily for her close collaboration with pop star Shawn Mendes; her work on the singer’s 2019 hit “In My Blood” earned a Grammy nomination for song of the year.

To this day, Geiger says she “loves” songwriting with and for various artists — in the last two years, she’s written for artists ranging from P!nk to Meghan Trainor to Machine Gun Kelly. But she also points out that the skill set required as a songwriting partner is significantly different from what’s needed to write for herself.

“When I work with other artists, I always want the ideas to come from them — I will very rarely pitch whole ideas to artists, but rather just be there to support whatever their vision is,” she says. “So, to try and turn that process back on myself and relearn how to do it felt like a challenge.”

Despite the difficulty, Geiger says she is immensely proud of the work she put in on Teresa. For the first time in a long time, she says she finally feels like she has a grasp on her identity as well as her career as an artist. “It’s been really nice to focus on what it feels like, what it sounds like and what it looks like for me as an artist at this point,” she says. “It took some time, but I’m now feeling really focused on myself and my artistry.”

01 Aug 2023

JoJo Siwa Gets Her First Tattoo With Raven-Symone & Wife Miranda Pearman-Maday

JoJo Siwa is the proud owner of a tattoo. The Dance Moms alum revealed on Tuesday (Aug. 1) that she took the plunge and got a special number inked behind her left ear with two people in tow for support — Raven-Symoné and wife Miranda Pearman-Maday.

Siwa showed off photos of her getting the tattoo — which read “1031” in delicate text — via Snapchat, while Pearman-Maday shared snaps to her Instagram Stories of Siwa and the That’s So Raven star at the tattoo table. On of the posts read, “bb’s first tattoo.” 

On Snapchat, the 20-year-old explained the meaning behind her new ink. “The official meaning [of] 1031 is how many days my first concert tour lasted, but then ’03 is the year that I was born,” she said. “Three is a significant number, but I can’t say why yet,” she added. 

Siwa also explained that she developed a fast friendship with Raven-Symoné and Pearman-Maday. She also shared it was originally going to be the married couple getting tattooed, but Siwa felt the urge after seeing her friends go for it.

“Here’s the tea: Raven and Miranda have become two of my best friends, and they are going to get a tattoo today. I’m going with them to watch them and support them,” she said before getting her tattoo. “However, we all know I want to get 1031 behind my right ear. I’ve known it for a long time. Today might be my day. I don’t know. I might do it. I really might do it. Raven and Miranda are convinced that I’m going to do it.  I am 99% convinced I want to do it. I’m just undecided on the font.”

Watch Siwa show off her new tattoo here.

01 Aug 2023

A2IM Expands Health Insurance Plans to Individual Members

The American Association of Independent Music, or A2IM, announced on Tuesday that artists who pay a $99 yearly fee will have access to healthcare benefits, including high-and-low-deductible plans, vision and dental, life insurance, renters’ insurance and even pet insurance. The program will expand from indie labels and other member companies to sole proprietors — “specifically designed for individual artists,” said Lisa Hresko, A2IM’s general manager.

“It’s a lot harder for artists to find available programs. What’s available to you is just more limiting in the U.S. if you do not have an employee-sponsored healthcare program,” Hresko added. “To have that option, whether you’re an artist or 1099 worker, should give you peace of mind.”

The healthcare plans, through the new A2IM Artist Pro program, are similar to Affordable Care Act options, but with “slightly more favorable pricing,” according to Hresko. Low-cost plans are available for $160 per month, or $260 for families, but they vary widely according to age, location and medical history. An average plan for a 40-year-old, relatively healthy individual ranges from $330 to $450 per month on the A2IM benefits website, depending on the deductible, a bit less expensive than a 2023 ACA plan.

In September, when the organization offered plans to its more than 600 indie-label member companies, about 30 signed up. The new program “definitely casts a wider net,” focusing on not just company employees but touring artists and others who have more complicated schedules than 9-to-5 employees.

“It’s exhausting on your physical and mental health to be on the road or keeping off-hours,” Hresko said. “Hopefully something like this gives people confidence and safety.”

After the Obama Administration’s signature healthcare plan became law in 2010, musicians were among the gig workers who suddenly no longer had to worry about insurance companies raising healthcare rates due to preexisting conditions. For most artists, the new A2IM plan will supplement the ACA as an option to achieve prescription drugs and emergency care, among other things. But Republicans have sharply attacked the ACA over the years, and programs like A2IM Artist Pro could be crucially important should the political winds change.

A2IM does not take a cut of the health-insurance payments, according to Hresko: “It’s a service for our members.”

She declined to name the organization’s health-insurance partner, to discourage members and potential members from “working their way around us.” Hresko adds: “We spent years searching for a correct partner. It was not a matter of a lack of trying, but what was available and who was willing to work with us. It took a while.”

01 Aug 2023

Cardi B Being Investigated For Throwing That Microphone At A Fan, Allegedly

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2019 Billboard Music Awards - Arrivals

Source: Axelle/Bauer-Griffin / Getty

Over the weekend video of Cardi B slinging a microphone at a fan who tried to douse her with water at a Vegas performance quickly went viral as an example of what not to do at a Cardi B show.

While we understood that Cardi was justified in her response to the overzealous fan, police are now investigating Cardi B for her transgression and it may end up costing her in the end. Variety is reporting that the woman who was on the receiving end of that microphone toss has filed a police report against Cardi B and is claiming to have been battered at the manicured hands of the Bronx rapper.

Variety reports:

The Las Vegas Metro Police Department confirmed a battery had been reported by a woman just one day after the altercation occurred in a statement obtained by Variety. No arrests or citations have been issued. 

“On July 30, 2023, an individual came into an LVMPD police station to report a battery,” the LVMPD stated. “According to the victim, she was attending an event on July 29, 2023, at a property located in the 3500 block of Las Vegas Boulevard. During a concert, she was struck by an item that was thrown from the stage.”

The “Bodak Yellow” rapper retaliated with the microphone throw after a concertgoer had launched a drink at her during her show. It remains unclear whether the person who threw the drink and the person who reported getting hit with the microphone are the same individual.

It really looked like Cardi missed the actual person who threw the drink, but we’re sure the police investigation into the matter will reveal if that is indeed the case.

The incident comes during a time when artists being pelted with foreign objects by concertgoers is all the rage. How or why this has become a trend is anyone’s guess, but best believe that if you try the wrong one (like Cardi), you’re going to end up paying for it. Unfortunately for Cardi, she might end up paying just to make this case go away, but that was expected as soon as this video went viral.

What do y’all think? Should Cardi be held accountable for her reaction or was she justified in her actions? Let us know in the comments section below.

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01 Aug 2023

Taylor Swift Joins Fans in Celebrating the Start of August: ‘Get in the Car’

The month of August is upon us. And for Swifties, that means it’s officially Follklore season.

That’s because one of the most beloved tracks on Taylor Swift‘s 2020 album shares a name with the month we’ve just entered: “August,” told through the perspective of a character dubbed by the fandom as Augustine, who fills the role of “the other woman” in the teenage love triangle chronicled by Folklore.

Even Swift herself has taken to Twitter to ring in the start of the month, in spite of the fact that she’s released two more albums (Evermore and Midnights) since dropping Folklore at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. (The album is just that iconic, and so is “August.”)

“get in the car it’s august,” the pop star wrote at the stroke of midnight on Tuesday (Aug. 1), referencing one of the song’s lyrics: “Remember when I pulled up and said ‘Get in the car’/ And then canceled my plans just in case you’d call?”

Her tweet received more than one million likes in just a few hours, with thousands of fans sharing their excitement in the comments. Many of them quoted more lyrics in Swift’s replies: “SALT AIR AND THE RUST ON YOUR DOOR!!!!” wrote one, while another added, “i never needed anything more (than this tweet).”

“august heads unite,” chimed in Jack Antonoff — who produced “August” — in a tweet of his own.

Other Swifties have also shared homemade memes and reverent tweets honoring the track, with several people declaring, “It’s officially august by taylor swift month.”

There’s plenty of evidence beyond Tuesday’s swirl of Swiftie tweets that proves “August” isn’t just any old fan-favorite song, but has the evergreen power of a seasonal classic, something diehard Swifties and casual fans alike will dust off every year. For instance, the track made a resurgence on the Hot Rock & Alternative Songs chart just a few weeks ago, and returned to the top 10 of the Hot Alternative Songs chart — mirroring the chart boost “August” saw one year ago.

And, assisted by a heavy feature in Prime Video’s Summer I Turned Pretty season two trailer, “August” has also experienced a major streaming boost recently. The week the trailer came out, its streams went up by 24%, according to Luminate.

See Taylor’s tweet and posts from Swifties celebrating “August” below: