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20 Jul 2023

Taylor Lautner and Wife Tay on Working With ‘Truly Unbelievable’ Taylor Swift

Taylor Lautner and his wife Tay Lautner are sharing all the details of what it was like working with Taylor Swift on the “I Can See You (Taylor’s Version) (From The Vault)” music video.

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On the latest episode of The Squeeze podcast, hosted by the Lautners, Tay said the secrecy surrounding the superstar’s latest video was “literally bigger than any secret I’ll ever have.”

Earlier this month, Swift debuted the first music video from her Speak Now (Taylor’s Version) album at the first Eras Tour stop in Kansas City, Missouri. The Twilight actor, Joey King and Presley Cash, who all starred in the video, also joined the singer onstage to celebrate the video’s premiere.

After the concert, they all took to social media at the time to share their excitement about the video, with Swift also writing on Instagram, “Joey and Presley had been in the video for “Mean” when they were 9 and 13 and they are back and so ridiculously bad ass!! Taytay is INCREDIBLE in this (didn’t have a stunt double!) and shout out to @taylautner for being so awesome to hang with on set. The Tale of 3 Taylors.”

Now, the Abduction actor is giving his thoughts on the whole experience, as well as sharing his appreciation for the Grammy-winning singer, who they call “blonde girl Tay” to differentiate from his wife, “girl Tay” since they all have the same name.

“We’ve known how freaking awesome the video is for a while now, so it was just stoked for everybody to see it and just see the genius of blonde girl Taylor because she is truly unbelievable. She can do it all,” Taylor said of Swift on the podcast. “Honestly, the most impressive thing about her is that she is such a
genius and she does do it all but you would never think so just talking to her. She’s the most humble person I’ve ever encountered.”

Tay seconded the actor’s comments, adding that Swift is such a “collaborative” person.

Later in the episode, the couple discussed their friendship with Swift and what it was like for Taylor to introduce his wife to the singer, given that she is also his ex-girlfriend. Swift and Taylor dated back in 2009, and it is rumored that her hit song “Back to December” is about their breakup.

“It was great,” Taylor quipped. “I know on paper it sounds like a tough situation, but I not once was ever worried about it.”

The actor added that he and his wife are secure in their relationship and that Tay is also the “coolest, chillest person ever” as well as being a “die-hard fan of that person.”

He also said “blonde girl Tay” is the “sweetest human being on Earth” so it ended up being “kind of just a perfect situation.”

This article originally appeared in THR.com.

20 Jul 2023

‘Barbie’ Movie Funko Pops: Where to Buy the Adorable Collectibles Before They Sell Out

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.

Funko is making a strong case for one of the cutest Barbie movie collaborations that fans need to get their hands on. The adorable collection includes Gold Disco Barbie, President Barbie and Western Barbie and Ken as miniature Funko Pop! figurines which retail for $12.99 each.

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The Pops are decked out in some of the eye-catching fashions from the film such as the sequin bodysuit and gold headpiece that Margo Robbie’s Barbie character wears on the dance floor, and the hot pink vest, bell bottoms and white cowboy hat (you might remember seeing both outfits in the Barbie movie main trailer).

Not to be outdone in the fashion department, Western Ken is ready to saddle up in a black, fringe shirt with matching pants and a white cowboy hat just like the movie character, played by Ryan Gosling.

President Barbie goes glam in a perfect replica of the blush pink gown and gold sash that Issa Rae (a.k.a. President Barbie) wears in the film. All four Funkos measure around 4-5 inches tall.

The Funko Pop! collectibles are available for pre-order at Amazon and Entertainment Earth. They won’t officially drop until Aug. 13, but it’s always a good idea to get your order in early — before they go out of stock.

Looking for more Barbie collabs to shop? You might want to add Barbie movie Crocs to your collection and be sure to check out our roundups on how to get tickets to the World of Barbie immersive experience, and what to wear to see the one of the most anticipated films of the year. Mark your calendars, Barbie: The Movie hits theaters this Friday (July 21).

Pre-order Barbie movie Funkos below.

Funko Pop! Movies: Barbie – Western Barbie

$12.99

Funko Pop! Movies: Barbie – Western Ken

$12.99

Funko Pop! Movies: Barbie – President Barbie

$12.99

Funko Pop! Movies: Barbie – Gold Disco Barbie

$12.99

19 Jul 2023

Fabolous Calls Female Rap “One Dimensional” In Online Critique

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Labor Day Weekend Takeover Hosted By Jada Wayda & Fabolous

Source: Prince Williams / Getty

Fabolous is sharing his opinion on the current state of rap by honing in on what he considers redundancy in female rap.

Taking to social media, the Hip-Hop veteran shared his opinion on the sector of the genre that is leading the pack, sharing that he’s “happy” to see so many women doing their thing in Hip Hop, he’d love it if some of these “strong” women incorporated topics about their life experiences in their rhymes a little more.

“I love hearing female rappers talking some real sh-t,” Fab wrote on his Instagram Story on Sunday (Jul. 16). “Women are so strong. Have so many stories and perspectives that we need to hear in pure form. No disrespect to any female rappers out there but I think there’s only one style of female rap/Hip Hop being promoted, programmed, and looked at as successful now.”

While Fab is calling for diversity, other rappers are weighing in on the influx of femcees dominating the charts, including Lil Baby, Lola Brooke, Glorilla and Lil Durk have all acknowledged women’s current reign, with Durk crediting them for being competitive and focused on their love for Hip Hop rather than the business side.

“Make hip hop fun again we understand everybody got money but let’s f–k em up like we was doing s/o the females who been working salute keep going up,” Lil Durk wrote in his Instagram story last month.

Fabolous is no stranger to supporting female artists, the Street Family head honcho previously collaborated with some of Hip-Hop’s most notable female emcees, including Missy Elliott, Lil’ Kim, Foxy Brown, and Nicki Minaj. Three of his biggest songs in particular, “Take You Home,” “What Should I Do,” and “Can’t Let You Go,” were all created alongside Baltimore artist Lil’ Mo.

In other Fabolous news, the rapper has announced plans to drop a fitness Hip-Hop album with Jim Jones, Dave East, and Maino titled Fit Lit, along with an appearance in Paramount+ Hip-Hop documentary, Mixtape,–followed by the official soundtrack.

As previously reported, the film highlights how authorities got involved in the downfall of the mixtape game and ultimately screwed up a once-thriving portion of the Hip-Hop game. In addition to Fabolous, DJ Green Lantern, A$AP Rocky, 2 Chainz, DJ Khaled, KRS-One, DJ Drama, and Jeezy will also make appearances in the film.

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19 Jul 2023

Jig’s Up?: Carlee Russell—What We Actually Know So Far

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Carlee Russell

Source: Hoover Police Department / Hoover PD

Questions still remain after the disappearance and return of Carlee Russell, prompting a look at the timeline of the situation from last week. After Wednesday’s (July 19) press conference, although plenty of questions were answered, more have sprouted that question the veracity of Russell’s claims.

The disappearance of the nursing student from Hoover, Alabama captured the attention of the country. The circumstances of the incident as well as the return still have people buzzing and expressing skepticism.

The Disappearance

Russell was driving along Interstate 459 when she made a call to 911 at 9:30 P.M. last Wednesday (July 12th), reporting that she saw a male toddler at the side of the road by mile marker 11. She called a family member after the 911 call, saying she was going to check on the child. At that point, the family member lost contact with Russell and said they heard her scream, but the phone line remained open according to the Hoover Police Department.

Authorities arrived on the scene, finding Russell’s cell phone, purse, and wig by her car but no sign of her or the toddler. Further investigation by police noted that she had stopped off at a Target at 8:20 P.M. to get snacks after leaving her job in Birmingham, ten miles north before setting out for her home in Hoover. The purchased food was not present.

The Return

The 25-year-old arrived at the front door of her family’s home on Saturday night (July 15th), barefoot. According to local police, they obtained video surveillance footage showing Russell walking down the street alone in her neighborhood. Medics were called to the residence to treat an “unresponsive but breathing” person. Russell was then taken to UAB Hospital, where she was treated and detectives took an initial statement from her.

Speculation and Skepticism

Many social media users have begun to cast doubt on Russell’s story, noting that authorities shared that there were no other 911 calls about the toddler. The frenzy caused Talitha Russell, Carlee’s mother, to issue a stern and lengthy denial  on Tuesday (July 18th) of any wrongdoing saying “no matter how many demands or false narratives that are produced we will not be bullied into doing anything that will compromise our daughter’s mental well-being or the investigation.”

 

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19 Jul 2023

Loren Gray Gets Her Chart Read, Explains Quick Rise to Fame & More on Billboard’s ‘Reading the Stars’

Loren Gray chats with Billboard‘s Evan Burke about her astrological placements — which revealed her quick rise to fame — communication style and more in the first episode of Billboard‘s “Reading the Stars”!

Evan Burke:
I already noticed you have your Aries sign tattooed …

Loren Gray:
I do.

Evan Burke:
Right there on your finger.

Loren Gray:
I do, it was a spur-of-the-moment thing.

Evan Burke:
Oh yeah, well that is a very Aries thing to do.

Obviously, you know your sun sign, which is Aries. Are there certain things about Aries that you really identify with?

Loren Gray:
Definitely: Impatient.

Evan Burke:
Yeah.

Loren Gray:
I feel like I have a lot of fighting energy. I love being in charge. Like, I like being the leader in most situations.

Evan Burke:
Those are all huge Aries qualities. Aries is kind of a baby of the Zodiac. It’s the very first sign. There are times when Aries will maybe jump the gun a little bit and they’ll get passionate about it and go for it without, like, really thinking about it.

Loren Gray:
Yeah, that’s one of my flaws.

Evan Burke:
It’s OK. We have a whole chart to work with, so you’re not just Aries. The sun is who you are at your core deep down inside. The moon is who you are emotionally and so how you interact with the world and your feelings. And you’re a Cancer Moon.

Loren Gray:
Yes.

Evan Burke:
Cancer Moons feel all the feelings.

Watch the full video above!

19 Jul 2023

7 Beauty Deals to Shop from the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale

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.

Clear some space off your bathroom shelf as the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale is currently going on, which means slashed prices on some of the hottest beauty products. Whether you’re looking to revamp your skincare routine or want to refresh your makeup collection, there are tons of beauty exclusive deals you can take advantage of until the major shopping event ends on Aug. 7.

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This includes brands like Supergoop!, Nars, Bobbi Brown, Drybar and many more. Deals can get close to 40% off meaning you can snag some luxe brands without breaking the bank.

Not sure where to start? We scoured the sale and rounded up the best beauty exclusive deals from the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale for you to score some major savings. Don’t wait too long though! The sale is only going on for a limited time and it’s not uncommon for products to go out of stock. Make sure you hop on these deals ASAP before your must-haves are sold out — or, even worse, they go back to being full priced.

Keep reading to shop our picks below.

3-pack of supergoop sunscreen

Nordstrom

Unseen & Play Sunscreen SPF 50 Set

$52 $78 33% off% OFF

Pamper your skin with an SPF set of three from Supergoop. Not only will you get the popular Unseen Sunscreen, but you’ll get a mini version of the formula as well as everyday lotion to keep your skin protected whether you’re swimming in the pool or walking to the office.

white and blue bottle of self tanner

Nordstrom

St. Tropez Jumbo Self Tan Bronzing Mousse

$49 $88 44% off% OFF

Consider this a one-size-fits all self tanner mousse made with ingredients that aim to tailor to your skin tone, resulting in a more sun-kissed appearance. Simply apply the formula to freshly exfoliated and moisturized skin then wait up to eight hours before showering for the best results.

clear bottle of lotion

Nordstrom

Kiehl’s Creme de Corps Body Moisturizer

$64 $96 33% off% OFF

Give your skin a boost of hydration with Kieh’s beloved body moisturizer. It’s not only 33% off, but comes with antioxidants and coco butter to help smooth and hydrate your skin.

eyeshadow palette next to tube of mascara

Nordstrom

Mac Cosmetics In Hindsight Eye Set

$42 $62 32% off% OFF

Whether you’re going for glam or a natural look, Mac Cosmetic’s eye set is here to help you out. It features six shades to mix, match and build with as well as a lifting mascara to complete your look with.

two red tubes of mascara

Nordstrom

Nars Climax Mascara Duo

$32 $50 36% off% OFF

Stock up on mascara by taking advantage of Nars’ duo deal, which provides two tubes of their Climax Mascara for just $32 total (a.k.a. $16 each!). The formula is buildable and aims to provide volume to your lashes without clumping. The black shade will also help deliver maximum pigment to really help your eyes pop.

clear bottle of olaplex shampoo

Nordstrom

Olaplex No. 4 Bond Maintenance Shampoo

$77 $96 20% off% OFF

Color treated hair? Your strands will thank you once it drinks up Olaplex’s strengthening shampoo. The ingredients look to repair most hair types using a paraben- and gluten-free formula that aims to maintain hair bonds and re-link broken strands.

white and rose gold blowdryer with head attachments

Nordstrom

T3 Featherweight StyleMax Dryer

$133.90 $199.99 33% off% OFF

Skip the hair appointment and give yourself a salon-worthy blowout using the T3 Featherweight StyleMax Dryer. It not only features a sleek and modern design, but comes with four head attachments to customize your styling too.

For more product recommendations, check out our roundups of the best powder foundations, TikTok beauty alternatives and refillable lipsticks.

19 Jul 2023

Mayor of Town Jason Aldean’s ‘Try That in a Small Town’ Video Was Filmed in Responds to Controversy

Amid the ongoing debate and controversy surrounding Jason Aldean’s “Try That in a Small Town,” the mayor of the “small town” the music video was filmed in has spoken out.

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Mayor Chaz Molder of Columbia, Tenn., said that he respects Aldean’s “freedom of his own lyrics,” but also hopes the next music video filmed in his town will “seek a more positive message,” according to local news station FOX 17.

“Like many small towns across America, Columbia, Tennessee is focused on bringing people together,” he told the station. “I hadn’t listened to the song prior to today, but I’ve now seen the video.”

On Tuesday (July 18), the country singer responded to recent claims that “Try That in a Small Town” is pro-gun, pro-violence and a “modern lynching song.” The song challenges those who “pull a gun on the owner of a liquor store” or “cuss out a cop” to, as the title suggests, try those actions in a small town and “see how far ya make it down the road.” The song’s video features footage of an American flag burning, protesters having confrontations with police, looters breaking a display case and thieves robbing a convenience store.

“In the past 24 hours I have been accused of releasing a pro-lynching song (a song that has been out since May) and was subject to a comparison that I (direct quote) was not too pleased with the nationwide BLM protests,” Jason wrote in his statement. “These references are not only meritless, but dangerous. There is not a single lyric in the song that references race or points to it and there isn’t a single video clip that isn’t real news footage- and while I can try and respect others to have their own interpretation of a song with music- this one goes too far.”

CMT has since pulled the video from its rotation after running it for three days, Billboard confirmed, while Aldean’s wife, Brittany Aldean, came to his defense. On the other hand, stars like Sheryl Crow and Margo Price have spoken out against Jason Aldean’s choice to perform and release the song.

19 Jul 2023

Wiz Khalifa ft. Young Deji “Pounds & Shrooms,” Onyx ft. Posseeshot “What We Doin” & More | Daily Visuals 7.19.23

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Wiz Khalifa

Source: Bernard Smalls / @PhotosByBeanz

Earlier this week Wiz Khalifa revealed that he threw the first pitch at a Pittsburgh Pirates game while under the influence of some magic mushrooms. Now the “Black & Yellow” rapper is dedicating a song to his favorite new mental enhancement while showing love to his previous drug of choice.

In his latest black-and-white visuals to the Young Deji assisted “Pounds & Shrooms,” Wiz holes up in the studio with the aforementioned guest feature along with a gang of thick young women who make it bounce to the beat while partaking in some Mary Jane and edible shrooms that’s sure to keep that party going for longer than they might’ve anticipated. Weed, shrooms and bottles? Yeah, that’s going to be one long studio session.

Back in Queens, Onyx bring decades worth of griminess into 2023 and for their clip to “What We Doin,” Fredro Starr and Sticky Fingaz link up with Posseshot to blaze up a storm and strengthen America’s relationship with Australia. We support this.

Check out the rest of today’s drops including work from Big Boogie, OhGeesy, and more.

WIZ KHALIFA FT. YOUNG DEJI – “POUNDS & SHROOMS”



ONYX FT. POSSESHOT – “WHAT WE DOIN”



BIG BOOGIE – “MINE”



OHGEESY – “NOT A SOUND”



SDOT GO, JAY5IVE & JAY HOUND – “DONE WIT IT”


https://youtube.com/watch?v=DK5HwSyZQK0&version=3&rel=1&showsearch=0&showinfo=1&iv_load_policy=1&fs=1&hl=en-US&autohide=2&wmode=transparent

DDG – “HANDS ON ME”



J.I. – “THANG FOR YOU REMIX”



ROOGA – “PUT IT ON DA FLOOR GMIX”



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19 Jul 2023

Travis Scott Announces New Song With The Weeknd & Bad Bunny

Travis Scott is bringing something sweet to fans, as he took to Instagram on Wednesday (July 19) to tease a new collaboration with The Weeknd and Bad Bunny.

The star-studded team up is seemingly titled “Lollipop,” as the rapper shared the cover art featuring a single red lollipop and captioned the post with three lollipop emojis. “Flame Abe Benito,” Scott wrote, adding that the song will be available on Thursday night (July 20).

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See his announcement here.

The “Pick Up the Phone” rapper is currently gearing up to launch Utopia, his first studio album in nearly five years, on July 28. The project serves as the follow-up to Astroworld, Scott’s third studio album, which debuted atop the Billboard 200 and spawned several Billboard Hot 100 hits such as “Sicko Mode” (No. 1), “Stargazing” (No. 8), and “Carousel” (No. 24). 

Last week, the star announced a livestream event celebrating the album launch, which will take place on release day at Pyramids of Giza in Egypt.

After reports that Egyptian government officials canceled the event due to The Egyptian Syndicate of Musical Professions allegedly having concerns about ensuring “the safety and protection of the audience,” Live Nation assured that the livestream event is still set to go as planned. “There have been no changes to Travis Scott’s show in Egypt; any reports to the contrary are false. We can’t wait to celebrate Utopia with you in Egypt,” the company shared in a statement to Billboard.

19 Jul 2023

Mark Ronson Has Heard Dua Lipa’s New Album & Thinks ‘It’s Incredible’

Mark Ronson struck gold with executive producing the Barbie soundtrack, which features tracks by Dua Lipa, Lizzo, Billie Eilish, Nicki Minaj x Ice Spice and more. Ronson, however, would like to clear up a misconception about Lipa’s “Dance the Night,” the first single off of the movie soundtrack.

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“I want to correct this, because we didn’t write it for Dua — we wrote the music and then she wrote the song with Caroline Ailin. I’ve worked with Dua, but I’m also a fan of Dua’s records; I’m a DJ, so I play Dua records. It’s all mixed up in the soup. So I’m sure there’s somewhere where Dua and I have similar influences,” he said in a Wednesday (July 19) interview with Vulture. “I think that it felt Future Nostalgia–adjacent because her music does the s— that I really love, as far as dance music goes: It has an energy, but it’s kind of tough and weird. Same as Tame Impala’s music, like any dance music that’s just a little imposing.”

Many fans speculated that the disco-leaning track serves as a continuation of Lipa’s highly successful Future Nostalgia era, but Ronson begs to differ. Speaking about the pop star’s next album, the “Uptown Funk” artist said, “I’ve heard some of it and it’s incredible. I think that’s why there’s the disco ball that smashes in the video, right? This feels like her triumphant stomp on that era of her music into whatever she does next.”

While Lipa’s fans will need to patiently wait for her comeback, Barbie: The Album will arrive much sooner — the soundtrack is scheduled to release in tandem with the movie, which will hit theaters this Friday (July 21).