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13 Apr 2023

Lil Nas X Sends Heartfelt Message to Queer Fans in Saudi Arabia Longing to Be ‘Free in Your Own Home’

With a rising tide of anti-LGBTQ sentiment making its way around the globe, Lil Nas X wants his fans to know that he is there to support them.

On Wednesday night (April 12), the “Old Town Road” rapper retweeted a report from a fan account that said his song “Sun Goes Down” off of Montero had reached No. 1 on the iTunes charts in Saudi Arabia.

In his tweet, the rapper sent a message specifically to his LGBTQ fans in Saudi Arabia, hoping that the song’s message resonated with them. “to my gays [sic] fans from saudi arabia reading this, i hope this song is getting you through whatever you’re going through,” he wrote. “and i hope someday soon the laws against us change and you can be free in your own home.”

The song traces Lil Nas’ personal journey from experiencing suicidal thoughts at a young age to self-acceptance of his queerness later on in life, with many seeing it as a hopeful anthem to coming out. “I know that you want to cry/ But there’s much more to life than dying,” he sings on the final post-chorus. “Over your past mistakes/ And people who threw dirt on your name.”

The rapper’s tweet was specifically referring to the Middle Eastern country’s criminalization of queerness. According to Human Dignity Trust, a U.K.-based legal advocacy group working to challenge same-sex discrimination laws around the globe, Saudi Arabia criminalizes same-sex sexual activity as well as public gender expression for trans people, with “a maximum penalty of death.”

Lil Nas’ touching message comes a few weeks after the rapper received criticism online for a tweet asking “where do the gays be in africa” shortly after Uganda passed a historically broad anti-LGBTQ law.

See Lil Nas X’s sweet message to his LGBTQ fans in Saudi Arabia below:

13 Apr 2023

Rihanna Stuns in Bump-Hugging Dress at Fenty Beauty Event: See the Photos

As usual, Rihanna looked stunning at a recent event for Fenty Beauty. While promoting new products and celebrating her brand’s partnership with Ulta, the 35-year-old Grammy winner stepped out wearing all white from head to toe, complete with a snug undershirt that showed off her baby bump.

The “Umbrella” singer, who’s currently expecting baby No. 2 with A$AP Rocky, took her monochrome moment very seriously, pairing her white denim jacket and skirt with matching heels, earrings and eyeshadow. Known for rocking looks that challenge the norms of maternity clothing, Ri chose a low-waisted skirt that proudly put her bump on display.

Photos and videos from the event were posted on Fenty Beauty’s official account Wednesday (April 12), along with clips of the mogul making a surprise onstage appearance to present her Glass Slipper gloss at the Ulta Beauty: Be Your Own Kind of Beautiful conference. “I had to see you guys in person,” she told screaming fans, later blowing a kiss to the crowd.

“You guys have been so supportive of the Fenty brand,” she continued. “Ever since we launched at Ulta Beauty, I wanted to show up in person and thank you.”

The outing comes just one day after RiRi gave fans a glimpse into her first Easter with her first child, an 11-month-old son she shares with Rocky. The musician posted photos of the little boy adorably petting baby bunnies and gnawing on colorful eggs, gushing, “Look at heeeeee!!!!”

See snaps of Rihanna showing off her baby bump at Ulta’s Fenty Beauty event below:

13 Apr 2023

Nicki Minaj to Star In 50 Cent’s ‘Lady Danger’ Animated Series

Nicki Minaj is getting animated, as she is set to both star in and executive produce Lady Danger, Amazon Freevee’s upcoming animated show derived from the Dark Horse comic book series written by Alex de Campi, Deadline reported on Thursday (April 13).

The series will also be executive produced by 50 Cent under his G-Unit Films and Television Inc. production company, in tandem with Brian Sher, Paul Young and Mike Griffin for Make Good Content. Starburns Industries will animate the series.

Following the announcement, 50 shared his the news and his excitement on social media, writing across two separate posts, “What you doing today, we working @nickiminaj South Side you already know what it is. Big Bag BOOM GLG GreenLightGang I don’t miss” and “B.O.O.T.I. (bureau of organized terrorism intervention) LADY DANGER coming soon ! GLGGreenLightGang Taking over.”

Lady Danger will take place in the year 2075, and follows a government field agent who is presumed to be dead, but is later resurrected as the titular Lady Danger. The character is described by Deadline as an ” afrofuturistic a–kicking Agent of B.O.O.T.I (Bureau of Organized Terrorism Intervention)” who, like many comic book superheroes, must hide her identity while taking down villains who threaten the safety of Earth’s inhabitants. Carlton Jordan and Crystle Roberson, also executive producers for the project, are credited as the series’ writers.

Lady Danger adds to a list of production credits for 50, which includes Power, BMF, Hip Hop Homicides, For Life and more. Minaj adds Lady Danger to a list of her growing animation credits, which includes Ice Age: Continental Drift and The Angry Birds Movie 2.

13 Apr 2023

Autographed Pair Of Game-Worn Air Jordan 13’s Sell For Record $2.2M

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A pair of rare, game-worn, autographed Air Jordan 13's from Sotheby's auction sold for a record $2.2 million.

Source: Sotheby’s / Sotheby’s

Two decades after retiring from the NBA and Michael Jordan is still out here breaking records in 2023.

After hitting the auction block on Sotheby’s, Michael Jordan’s game worn pair of Air Jordan 13‘s ended up selling for a record $2.2 million, making it the most expensive pair of sneakers ever sold. The autographed pair of Air Jordan 13’s were expected to sell for a record amount. But it’s still pretty shocking that someone out there would drop more than $2 million to own a pair of kicks that aren’t even wearable as they’re sure to crumble should anyone even attempt to try them on.

As for how these grails came to hit the public eye for auction, Sneaker News got the story behind that one and man did some lucky ballboy get the ultimate come-up.

From Sneaker News:

As the story goes, a Utah Jazz ballboy had previously recovered Jordan’s lost jacket at a practice in Salt Lake City. When it was returned to the GOAT, the ballboy asked for a pair of game-worn shoes in return. Following his 37-point performance to tie the series at one apiece, Jordan gifted and autographed the toe box of the jet-black tumbled pair with bright silver Sharpie. While in-game creases line the vibrant red nubuck overlays and dimpled sidewalls, the “He Got Game” synonymous silhouette remains in pristine condition having been authenticated by NBA affiliate the MeiGray Group.

Lucky bastard.

Keep in mind that the Air Jordan 13 isn’t even in the top five of most popular Air Jordan silhouettes and still ended up the most expensive pair ever sold. Had these been a pair of game-worn autographed Air Jordan 1, 3 or 4’s, it would’ve been a wrap.

While we don’t know who ended up having the winning bid for the sneakers (we say DJ Khaled), someone out there done got themselves a helluva pair of grails that might forever remain inside a display case where they belong. (Please don’t try to wear these, Mr. Big Shot.)

What do y’all think of the final selling price? Who do y’all think might’ve came out of pocket something ridiculous for this pair? Let us know in the comments section below.

13 Apr 2023

Luke Combs, Opry Entertainment Group Reveal Plans for Multi-Level Nashville Venue

Reigning CMA entertainer of the year winner Luke Combs and Ryman Hospitality Properties’ Opry Entertainment Group have joined forces to reimagine Nashville’s Wildhorse Saloon, located at 120 2nd Ave. N., as a Combs-inspired multi-level entertainment venue; it’s set to open in 2024.

The yet-to-be-named complex will total 69,000 square feet, including an outdoor-indoor capacity of nearly 3,200 people, and will reflect Combs’ passions for music, songwriting, whiskey and sports. Specifically, the venue will take inspiration from Combs’ debut hit “Hurricane,” which went 8x multi-Platinum and spent two weeks at the pinnacle of Billboard‘s Country Airplay chart in 2017.

Speaking with Billboard at the Wildhorse Saloon in downtown Nashville, Combs said that watching Opry Entertainment’s work on Blake Shelton’s Ole Red venues was inspiring.

“I’ve had other offers for venues, but I always thought if I had the chance one day to do a venue, I would want to work with them. Working in hospitality the way they do, they bring something unique to the table.”

Combs added, “I talked with Blake about it this January, when we were talking about working with the Opry folks. He had so many great things to say about them and was like, ‘You should absolutely do this,’ and he was excited for me. It was great to get that affirmation.”

The entertainment complex will include a 1,500-person capacity concert venue for ticketed events. Meanwhile, a proposed rooftop bar (720-person capacity) with views of the Cumberland River and Nissan Stadium will add 9,000 square feet of entertainment space to the existing 60,000-square-foot venue.

The three interior levels will convey Combs’ songs, lifestyle and connection to his Bootlegger fans.

Colin Reed, Ryman Hospitality Properties’ executive chairman, told Billboard that he estimates the project will cost in the “tens of millions,” though he declined to offer specific financials.

Reed described the venue as containing a “250-seater honky-tonk at the front that can open up into the concert hall behind it.” He adds that the concert hall will include a “Beautiful Crazy” area designed for groups and bachelorette parties, as well as a bourbon bar and an area dedicated and inspired by Combs’ Bootleggers fanclub.

“We’ve definitely tried to prove over the years that we always think about the fans first,” Combs told Billboard. “I wanted to continue to do that with this spot, too. I didn’t just want to slap y name on something and wash my hands of it. I’ve been very hands-on with this. I wanted it to be something where my fans felt like they could come to. Obviously, if they are in the fanclub, there will be special things and special places for them to come to and unique opportunities.”

“With the honky-tonk, when I say 250 people, it will be two stories,” Reed tells Billboard. “It will be a small, intimate 250-capacity, where people will be on the second floor, looking down onto a stage and on the ground floor it will have a great bar behind it.”

Reed adds that the third floor is include a “new-generation sorts bar, to provide people who come to Nashville, who want not only to drink good bourbon, good beer, but also listen to music and watch their favorite sports team play.”

In the meantime, the venue will continue to operate as the Wildhorse Saloon until the new venue opens in 2024.

The Wildhorse Saloon opened in downtown Nashville in 1994 and has since been home to more than 4,000 television show episodes and tapings, as well as a destination for corporate events. The venue previously hosted The Wildhorse Saloon Dance Show on The Nashville Network in the 1990s and served as a base for the CMT show Can You Duet.

Combs says fans can absolutely expect to see some surprise appearances and performances from him at the venue.

“Any opportunity or any time I do something in town, I can do it here, because this is a spot that is large and versatile. It will be a really unique spot,” Combs says.

Combs is currently on his world tour, will will visit Nashville this weekend, for two shows at Nissan Stadium.

13 Apr 2023

Cam’ron Hit With Copyright Lawsuit For Using Photo Of Himself On Dipset Merch

The rapper Cam’ron is facing a copyright lawsuit over allegations that he used a 2003 image of himself on t-shirts, jewelry and a slew of other merchandise sold by his Dipset Couture – all without any kind of license from the original photographer.

In a complaint filed Tuesday (April 11) in New Jersey federal court, photographer Djamilla Cochran claimed the “Hey Ma” rapper (real name Cameron Giles) splashed her image — a shot of Cam wearing a fuzzy pink coat and hat while holding a matching flip phone — across a wide range of Dipset products.

She says he also repeatedly posted the image to Instagram to promote those products, which also included shower curtains, pillows, swimsuits, socks and even a birthday cake. The complaint came with numerous screenshots of Dipset Couture’s product listings and Cam’ron’s posts promoting them.

And, according to the lawsuit, Cam’ron was alerted numerous times that he was using the image without a license.

“Getty Images notified defendants of their infringing activities by mail and email on multiple occasions,” Cochran’s lawyers wrote. “Despite those notifications, defendants continued to sell merchandise and continued to display the photograph on website and accounts.”

Reps for Cam’ron did not immediately return a request for comment.

Cochran’s image (featured above) captured Cam’ron at the Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Show in New York in 2003, wearing a flashy color that would become a key part of his brand identity. In 2016, GQ magazine used the photo atop an article titled “Cam’ron Is Very Particular When It Comes to the Color Pink,” saying that the rapper had “defined himself with an iconic pink mink coat” at that fashion show.

While it might sound unfair to a celebrity, the copyrights to a photo are almost always retained by the person who snapped it. Being featured in an image doesn’t grant someone a right to use it for free, and certainly not on commercial merchandise.

That’s not a new dilemma for stars. Over the last few years, Miley Cyrus, Dua Lipa, Justin Bieber, Ariana Grande, Emily Ratajkowski, LeBron James, Katy Perry and others have all faced copyright cases after they re-used photos of themselves snapped by someone else.

But the lawsuit against Cam’ron is potentially more serious than those earlier cases, which mostly dealt with stars just reposting an image on social media. His alleged unauthorized use of Cochran’s image on numerous commercial products, even after he was allegedly warned to stop, could leave him facing more substantial damages.

According to screenshots included in the lawsuit, Cam’ron had been doing so for years. Instagram posts from his mr_camron handle dating back as far as 2014 show Cochran’s image, including on skateboards, facemasks and reposted in full.

13 Apr 2023

HHW Gaming: Link & His Ultrahand Is Hyrule’s Final Hope In Epic Final Trailer For ‘The Legend of Zelda: Tears of The Kingdom’

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'The Legend of Zelda: Tears of The Kingdom's Final Trailer Is Here

Source: Nintendo / The Legend of Zelda: Tears of The Kingdom

If this latest trailer didn’t excite you even more for The Legend of Zelda: Tears of The Kingdom, you have no pulse.

When Nintendo said they had another trailer for the highly anticipated sequel to Breath of The Wild, many wondered what more the video game company could show us about the game that we have not seen already.

Well, the action-packed, 3-minute final trailer before the game’s impending launch had plenty of eye candy to show while an epic remix of the iconic Legend of Zelda theme blasts through the speakers, pretty much invoking single tears of joy from Zelda fans worldwide.

As far as the game’s plot, Hyrule is in trouble again from some new threats that will require Link, aka Hyrule’s “final hope,” as Princess Zelda calls him in the trailer to link up with allies old and new to take down new enemies, and of course, as always, Ganondorf has found a way to return to stir up trouble.

Link must pick up the Master Sword again and use his new Ultrahand and building abilities to fight on the ground, take to the skies, and even get his Mission Impossible on to defeat his longtime nemesis while trying to find Princess Zelda and save Hyrule from doom.

All in days work for Hyrule’s longtime hero.



The Hype Is Real For Tear of The Kingdom

Video game Twitter is currently sharing its thoughts about the new trailer, and, yes, they are ready to save Hyrule…AGAIN.

The Legend of Zelda: Tears of The Kingdom arrives on May 12; a limited-edition Nintendo Switch OLED is also available for pre-order. 

Nintendo Switch - OLED Model - The Legend of Zelda Tears of The Kingdom Edition

Source: Nintendo / Nintendo Switch – OLED Model – The Legend of Zelda Tears of The Kingdom Edition

You can see more reactions in the gallery below.

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Photo: Nintendo / The Legend of Zelda: Tears of The Kingdom

1. We felt that.

2. We wanna know too

3. Let’s goooooo

13 Apr 2023

Drake Bell ‘Missing and Endangered,’ Daytona Beach Police Say

Former Nickelodeon star Drake Bell is missing and considered in danger, according to an alert issued by the Daytona Beach Police Department on Thursday morning (April 13). In a missing person’s Facebook post, the DBPD said officers are looking for Bell (born Jared Bell), 36, who they said could be traveling in a 2022 gray BMW, which was last seen in the Daytona Beach, Fla, area around 9 p.m. on Wednesday (April 12).

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The alert says that Bell is “considered missing and endangered.” Bell is best known as the star of the Nickelodeon shows Drake & Josh and The Amanda Show, as well as appearances in the network’s The Fairly OddParents films and for a series of albums released in the early and mid-2000s. His most recent LP was 2014’s rockabilly themed Ready Steady Go!, which debuted at No. 182 on the Billboard 200 album chart. At press time, spokespeople for Bell and the DBPD had not returned Billboard‘s requests for additional comment.

In July 2021, Bell was sentenced to two years’ probation in connection with child endangerment charges related to an underage girl he met online who attended several of his concerts when she was 15. Bell had pleaded guilty a month earlier to felony attempted child endangerment and a misdemeanor charge of disseminating matter harmful to juveniles. The singer/actor was ordered to serve probation and do 200 hours of community service in California.

Officials ask anyone who has seen Bell or has any information about his current whereabouts to contact Det. Jayson Wallace at (386) 671-5207.

See the DBPD post below.

13 Apr 2023

Coachella 2023 Announces ‘Fortnite’ Metaverse Activation Featuring Music From Porter Robinson

Can’t make it to Coachella this weekend? No problem. Now you can attend through your computer.

On Thursday (April 13), the festival announced “Coachella Island,” a partnership with Fortnite that presents the festival in the metaverse. Launching Friday (April 14) at 3 p.m. PT to coincide with the first day of the IRL fest, Coachella Island is inspired by Coachella’s dreamy desert landscape, with digitally rendered mountains, polo fields, palm trees and day-to-night features.

Inside this landscape, “attendees” can take part in dance competitions, tour the “grounds,” purchase in-game “merch” and more. Built by Alliance Studios, which has built many brand campaigns inside Fortnite, the Island also features an “art park” and a gallery of related “fotography.” Coachella Island will be soundtracked by music from Porter Robinson, who’s also on the 2023 lineup.

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Coachella Island anticipates hosting millions of fans over the weekend. It also marks the first time Fortnite has hosted a festival, after previously hosting record-setting one-off performances by artists including Travis Scott and Marshmello. Coachella is an “always on” experience, meaning it will stay live in perpetuity and continue to be built over time.

“Fortnite is the ideal partner for Coachella due to their shared emphasis on creativity, entertainment, and cultural impact,” Coachella innovation lead Sam Schoonover tells Billboard. “This year was the right time to introduce this new, always-on extension of Coachella as recent advancements in gaming technology allow for new collaborations with Fortnite creators to provide new immersive music experiences for fans.”

Previous festivals have also happened inside the metaverse, with Electric Daisy Carnival Las Vegas partnering with Roblox in 2021.

Coachella launches April 14 in Indio, Calif., with headliners Bad Bunny, BLACKPINK, Frank Ocean. Blink-182 was also added to the lineup recently and will perform at the festival on opening day.

13 Apr 2023

Songwriter Ashley Gorley Has 3 ACM Nods for Song of the Year: Who Else Has Done That?

Songwriter Ashley Gorley has three ACM Awards nominations for song of the year. He’s only the third songwriter to achieve that feat in the show’s 58-year history. (The category was introduced in the show’s second year.)

Gorley co-wrote Chris Stapleton’s “You Should Probably Leave” with Stapleton and Chris DuBois; Cole Swindell’s “She Had Me at Heads Carolina” with Swindell, Jesse Frasure, Mark D. Sanders, Thomas Rhett and Tim Nichols; and Morgan Wallen’s “Sand in My Boots” with Josh Osborne and Michael Hardy.

The only other songwriters to notch three nominations in one year are Merle Haggard and Kris Kristofferson, each more than 50 years ago.

Hag was the sole writer of all three of his 1968 nominees – “The Legend of Bonnie and Clyde,” “Mama Tried” and “I Take a Lot of Pride in What I Am.” He was also the artist on all three songs. The first two reached No. 1 on Hot Country Singles – now called Hot Country Songs. “I Take a Lot of Pride” peaked at No. 3. Jimmy Webb won the award that year for writing the Glen Campbell classic “Wichita Lineman.”

Kristofferson was the sole writer of all three of his 1970 nominees – “Help Me Make It Through the Night,” a No. 1 hit for Sammi Smith; “Sunday Morning Coming Down,” a No. 1 hit for Johnny Cash; and “For the Good Times,” a No. 1 hit for Ray Price. (All three chart references are to Hot Country Singles.) Kristofferson won the award for the sublime “For the Good Times.”

Hag, who died in 2016 at age 79, and Kristofferson, 86, have long been country music royalty.

Haggard was voted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2007 and the Country Music Hall of Fame in 1994. He received a lifetime achievement award from the Recording Academy in 2006 and the Kennedy Center Honors in 2010.

Kristofferson was voted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 1985 and received that organization’s highest honor, the Johnny Mercer Award, in 2006. He was voted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 2004 and received a lifetime achievement award from the Recording Academy in 2006.

Gorley, 45, has written hits for a raft of country artists, as well as such non-country artists as Bon Jovi and Jason Derulo. He has topped Billboard’s Country Songwriters chart for 33 weeks and has headed Hot 100 Songwriters for three weeks.