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19 Oct 2022

Lana Del Rey Says She Lost Unreleased Music & Book After Her Devices Were Stolen

Lana Del Rey took to social media on Instagram this week to share a series of videos explaining that her laptop, hard drives and camcorders were stolen from her car while she was out on Melrose Place in Los Angeles.

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As a result, the star shared that she lost a 200-page manuscript for her upcoming book from Simon & Schuster, which she had not backed up and must start over. And while she erased the contents of the laptop remotely, Del Rey said she still is noticing unreleased songs being leaked online.

“Please don’t listen to the music if you hear it because it’s not coming out yet,” she asked of her fans. “And in terms of the book, I loved the book that I lost with all of my heart and put a lot of passion into it. And in terms of the camcorders, we shall see what happens with that.”

On a positive note, Del Rey is just days away from being featured on Taylor Swift’s upcoming album Midnights on the LP’s track, “Snow on the Beach.” Swift shared that her collaborator is “one of the best musical artists ever. The fact that I get to exist at the same time as her is an honor and a privilege.” Midnights arrives on Friday (Oct. 21).

See below for the full message from Del Rey, screen recorded and shared by a fan Twitter page.

19 Oct 2022

Musicians React to Kanye West’s Antisemitic Comments, ‘White Lives Matter’ Shirts

Kanye West has always had a knack for stirring the pot, but at the beginning of October, he’s taken his controversial statements to a new level.

Though Ye has been vocal about his conservative, pro-Trump opinions for years, his latest controversies started Oct. 3 when photos from his Yeezy Paris Fashion Week show showing some of his models wearing shirts printed with the phrase “White Lives Matter” started circling online. West himself had also worn one of the shirts to the show, and even stopped to take a photo with conservative commentator Candace Owens, who was also sporting “WLM” attire.

The situation was then exacerbated by West’s subsequent Instagram posts targeting fashion editor Gabriella Karefa-Johnson, who’d previously shared her horror at the shirts on her own account. These were followed by additional posts attacking stars who’d came to Karefa-Johnson’s defense, such as Gigi Hadid and Hailey Bieber.

He went on to defend his statements on Tucker Carlson‘s Fox News show, saying he used “White Lives Matter” — classified by the Southern Poverty Law Center as a “racist response to the civil rights movement Black Lives Matter” — simply because he thought it was “funny.”

Before that controversy even had the chance to die down, Ye started up another one — this time against Jewish people. After posting aggressive, explicitly anti-Semitic sentiments over the weekend of Oct. 8, he was temporarily restricted from using both Instagram and Twitter.

As a result, stars such as Ariana Grande, John Legend, Diddy, Jack Antonoff and more have all come forward to condemn the rapper’s views. Keep reading to see who’s weighed in.

19 Oct 2022

Kodak Black Shoots His Shot At GloRilla

Kodak Black subscribes to hockey legend Wayne Gretzky’s theory that you “miss 100 percent of the shots you don’t take” when it comes to women.

On Tuesday night (October 18), Kodak got up another shot when he displayed his affection for GloRilla during her Instagram Live.

The Florida rapper hopped into the comment section and attempted to flirt with the First Lady of CMG by making a reference to lyrics from her Cardi B-assisted hit “Tomorrow 2.”

“You prolly aint my girl today but that’s why I love tomorrow,” Kodak wrote.

GloRilla is far from the first girl Kodak has tried to charm as he’s previously gone after the likes of City Girls rappers JT and Yung Miami, Lauren London and influencer Brittany Renner at Rolling Loud Miami earlier this year.

Kodak Black also showed support for GloRilla after the BET Hip Hop Awards handed Song of the Year honors to Latto’s “Big Energy,” which Yak disagreed with.

“The Woman Empowerment Shit Kool,” Kodak wrote on Twitter after finding out “Super Gremlin” lost. “Don’t Take Nun From Nobody But You Still Gotta Work For It! Don’t Jus Simply Give It To Somebody Kuz They A Woman !!!!! If That’s The Case Y’all Shoulda Gave Song Of The Year To Glorilla Not That Hating Ass Mutt.

“[‘Big Energy’] Ain’t Move Nobody! Forget About Me At This Point ! AT LEAST ‘Fuck N-gga Free’ Was A Anthem ! Tf You Think SONG OF THE YEAR Mean?”

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Kodak Black Trashes Latto’s BET Hip Hop Awards Win – & Gets Response

October 6, 2022

Kodak has been causing havoc on Instagram Live this week. He also joined Druski’s Live where he spooked the internet comedian after tapping into his “Super Gremlin” powers.

During their conversation, the light in Yak’s room began flickering on and off as the Florida native ominously declared: “I’m a nightmare baby. Super Gremlin. Voodoo baby.”

Druski was spooked by Kodak’s behavior and pleaded with the rapper to cut it out. “Wait, why is it blinking black and white?” he asked, growing concerned. “Aye Kodak, come on, man. Don’t do that now. Chill, chill, chill. Aye Kodak, it’s me, bruh! I’m joking, bro.”

19 Oct 2022

On the Radar Latin: Eduardo Galan, Nora Gonzalez & More Emerging Artists to Discover

Every month, Billboard Latin editors will feature a small group of new or relatively unknown artists whose music we love. Think “diamantes en bruto,” or “diamonds in the rough.” These are newcomers who have yet to impact the mainstream — but whose music excites us, and who we believe our readers should make a point to discover.

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Our recommendations this month are emerging artists that we met during Billboard‘s 2022 Latin Music Week in Miami. Check them out below:

Artist: Blondiak

Country: Colombia

Why They Should Be on Your Radar: Singer-songwriter Blondiak struck me as a relatable, humble musician who is eager to grow and keep honing his craft. The Latin urban artist from Colombia, who works independently with the support of his family through their very own company, BK MUSIC ENTERTAINMENT LLC, has a dozen songs published on his YouTube channel, including the reggaetón tunes “Se cansó” (She got tired) and “Algo más” (Something more), and the tropical infused banger “Guaya,” which he released earlier this month. Blondiak, 22, was nominated this year for a Latino Show Award in his native country, in the developing artist category. Based in Miami since four years ago, he says he is 100% dedicated to music, and that his next plans include releasing an album, collaborating with other artists and promoting his music through Latin America. I am curious to see where he’s at five years from now. — SIGAL RATNER-ARIAS

Song for Your Playlist: “Guaya”

Artist: King David Dembow

Country: Puerto Rico

Why They Should Be on Your Radar: At Latin Music Week, a very eager emerging artist approached me introducing himself as “a Boricua who does dembow music.” With a royal name, King David Dembow launched his first official single last year, “Rompele,” and is signed to indie label High End Entertainment. The dembowsero newcomer has released many singles that best showcase his fast-paced beats and witty lyrics, as heard in “Calle,” “Ella Eh,” and the recent “Calor.” — JESSICA ROIZ

Song for Your Playlist: “Calor”

Artist: Daniel Arana

Country: Mexican-American

Why They Should Be on Your Radar: Daniel Arana is all about intentionality. The Mexican-American urban artist released his debut album, DALE, on a full moon — when energetically it’s the strongest — and his lyrics are all about spotlighting queer love and relationships. “My goal is to help mainstream Latin music become more LGBT-friendly, and to help the Latinx community become more open-minded, while helping those struggling to be who they are,” he told the Billboard team during Latin Music Week. While he is more traditional-leaning sonically, with reggaetón drums powering his songs, lyrically, he’s less traditional. For example, “Lento,” which is part of his latest LP, is about coming out and embracing his queer identity. — GRISELDA FLORES

Song for Your Playlist: “Lento”

Artist: Eduardo Galán

Country: Venezuela

Why They Should Be on Your Radar: Venezuelan Eduardo Galán really stood out not only because of his commanding presence, but because of his charisma and his bubbly personality. I was gladly surprised to find out that his song “Te Prometo” (I promise you) is just an extension of that — an infectious, positive tropical pop tune that invites you to dance and to smile. “And I promise to take you to heaven, to make you touch the sun,” the singer-songwriter, who lives in Spain, sings in his mother tongue. “This life is too short not to try,” he goes on. He is certainly giving music his best shot.

Also worth mentioning: His ballad “Bienvenida” (Welcome) dedicated to his young baby girl, with a cute music video starring his then-pregnant wife. With a music style somewhat reminiscent of Chino y Nacho or Chayanne, Galán is releasing music independently through Eduardo Galán Group. He plans to debut two new singles in November and January — one Cuban jazz and one merengue, he told Billboard Español — as he prepares for his first concerts in Barcelona, Madrid and Sevilla next year. — SRA

Song for Your Playlist: “Te Prometo”

Artist: J Molina

Country: Mexico

Why They Should Be on Your Radar: J Molina represents a growing number of Mexican-born artists dabbling in reggaetòn. The singer-songwriter, born in Monterrey, Mexico and currently residing in Texas, was one of the many emerging artists I came across during Latin Music Week, where he passionately talked about growing the reggaetón scene in Texas. After launching his career in 2010, Molina took it upon himself to create his own opportunities — launching his indie label The Kingz Factory in 2021 to release his own music and help develop up-and-coming local urban acts, such as La Yadi, who’s featured in his latest single “Tabú.” With a few singles under his belt, Molina’s reggaetón can be described as melodic and subtle as opposed to hard-hitting or raunchy. His rhythmic beats are powered by the traditional reggaetón drums. — G.F.

Song for Your Playlist: “Tabú”

Artist: Nora González

Country: Mexico

Why They Should Be on Your Radar: I first discovered Nora González in 2021 when she was a two-time Latin Grammy nominee, and was excited to see her networking at Latin Music Week. González, who also has promising collaborations with Lupita Infante and Vicente Fernandez Jr., is still a rising act in her own right. Her powerhouse and mature vocals bring a refreshing, bilingual touch to traditional mariachi music, which has ultimately dubbed her the “Charra Millennial.” Originating from Chihuahua, Mexico, and a Berklee College of Music alumn, González is recently making the rounds with her seven-track set Xtina, where she gives Christina Aguilera’s biggest hits a Regional Mexican tribute. González is signed to and managed by CHR Records. — J.R.

Song for Your Playlist: “Pero Me Acuerdo De Ti”

Artist: Shiela

Country: Mexico, Nicaragua

Why They Should Be on Your Radar: If her mix of cultures — Nicaraguan-Mexican-American — is any indication, Shiela is an emerging Latinx artist who’s delivering innovative Latin R&B rhythms. With her sultry voice, the Texas-born, Miami-based artist brings to life her empowered lyricism, as heard in recent singles “Estas Mal” and “Soltera.” Shiela is inspired by artists such as Sade and Selena Quintanilla, and has already graced the renowned stages of SXSW and Austin City Limits Music Festival on multiple occasions. Shiela officially kicked off her career in 2017 with the debut single “Runaway,” and dropped her debut, bilingual album Chilita in 2021. — J.R.

Song for Your Playlist: “Estas Mal”

Artist: Wanton Chulito

Country: Cuba

Why They Should Be on Your Radar: Amongst the many aspiring artists at Latin Music Week, I came across Wanton Chulito (real name: Yoandris Wanton). Hailing from Santiago de Cuba, the Texas-based singer-songwriter is fusing traditional Cubaton rhythms with other genres such as bachata and dembow. With the mission of getting more eyes and ears on his music, Wanton has strategically collaborated with many artists, including dembow act Bulova and Cuban artist El Taiger. — J.R.

Song for Your Playlist: “Candela” (feat. Bulova)

Artist: Victor & Gabo

Country: Venezuela

Why They Should Be On Your Radar: Victor & Gabo is a Venezuelan duo formed by Víctor Portillo and Carlos Espinoza who I met on the first day of Latin Music Week. They shared a little about their story and passion for music. Listening to them now, they are a fusion of fresh tropical-urban and romantic melodies, featuring Gabo’s chanteos and Victor’s sweet, higher range. Theo du recently released their new single, “Cantinero,” a song that mixes regional Mexican music with pop and Latin rhythms, proving their versatility. — INGRID FAJARDO

Song For Your Playlist: “Cantinero”

19 Oct 2022

Here’s What Megan Thee Stallion Has to Say About Pardison Fontaine Engagement Rumors

Megan Thee Stallion had a few things to say regarding rumors online that boyfriend Pardison Fontaine had popped the question amid their second anniversary.

“Lol as nice as last night was we are not engaged,” she tweeted simply on Wednesday (Oct. 19), shutting down chatter among her loyal army of Hotties. However, the rapper didn’t hesitate to show off her anniversary date night with Pardi on her Instagram Stories.

In the first video, Meg shared her glitzy aquamarine gown and glamorous updo from the back of a car before her rapper beau crashed the frame, joking, “What, you thought this was a solo? Whatchu doin’, whatchu doin’? Why they always tryin’ to show the plate but never the date? What’s wrong with them? They crazy!”

Next she puts Pardi’s skills as a former teacher to the test as she requires him to do “tipsy math” and add up how many days they’ve been dating. “730 days of good lovin…wow,” she captioned the adorable video, in which her boyfriend hilariously asks, “Was last year a leap year or no?” before doing the arithmetic.

While Megan may not have a ring on it quite yet, she has another milestone to celebrate in her career, having just wrapped her first stint as both host and musical guest on last week’s Saturday Night Live. Between performances of “NDA,” “Plan B” and “Anxiety,” the Grammy winner showed off her comedy chops in sketches like “Girl Talk,” “Hot Girl Hospital” and “Women’s Charity.”

Read Meg’s response to the engagement rumors below and check out her date night Instagram Stories here before they expire.

19 Oct 2022

TikTok to Launch Songwriting Platform for Creators With Simon Cowell, UMG & Samsung

TikTok creators will soon be handed a fresh set of tools to soundtrack their videos and potentially make hit songs when a new in-app platform created by Simon Cowell’s Syco Entertainment company, in partnership with Universal Music Group and Samsung, launches on the platform later this month.  

Called StemDrop, the initiative will provide TikTok’s more than 1 billion monthly users with access to music “stems” (the isolated components of a song, such as drum tracks or individual vocal parts) from an exclusive new track composed by hit songwriters Max Martin, Savan Kotecha and Ali Payami entitled “Red Lights,” which creators can then use to record and share their own versions.  

The project was conceived by British music mogul Cowell and entertainment executive Tim Van Rongen in partnership with Universal Music imprint Republic Records and Samsung.  

“With tens of thousands of songs uploaded every day this idea will give aspiring artists the opportunity to collaborate with some of the most successful songwriters in the world,” said Cowell in a statement announcing the project.  

Sir Lucian Grainge, chairman and CEO of Universal Music Group, paid tribute to the “incredible team” Cowell has assembled to launch the platform, “harnessing the scale of TikTok, to leverage the artistry of creators worldwide.” 

StemDrop debuts on Oct. 26, when 60 seconds of “Red Lights” will be exclusively released on TikTok, along with individual “stems” from the track which can be accessed through a dedicated micro-site or an in-app StemDrop Mixer, enabling users to play with production effects and create new versions of the song.

A spokesperson for StemDrop tells Billboard that Universal/Republic Records retain ownership of the master recording of “Red Lights”, the publishers own their share and with any future versions, the contribution of any new creator will be added to the royalty split.

It’s not clear if Martin — who co-wrote and produced multiple Billboard Hot 100 No. 1s, including Britney Spears’ “…Baby One More Time,” Taylor Swift’s “Shake It Off” and The Weeknd’s “Blinding Lights” – or “Red Lights” co-writers Kotecha and Payami will be involved with the platform beyond its first phase, which is officially titled “’StemDrop’ – A Song for the World.”  

Following its launch, a StemDrop profile on TikTok will share new versions of the track from around the world, curated by the platform, Syco, Republic Records and Universal Music Group. TikTok music curator Ari Elkins, singer-songwriter Astrid S and digital creator Your Boy Moyo will act as global ambassadors for StemDrop and host daily content on the @StemDrop TikTok channel. Syco Entertainment and Republic Records will provide creative direction and drive the StemDrop talent discovery program going forward, according to a press release from TikTok.  

“Every day, brilliant, undiscovered artists and songwriters turn to TikTok to share their music and find a global audience,” said Ole Obermann, Global Head of Music at TikTok. “StemDrop will put a spotlight on this talent and act as a springboard to help them build their careers.” 

19 Oct 2022

Pixel 7: Where to Buy the ‘Most Powerful Google Phone Yet’

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.

There’s a new kid on the block. Google Pixel 7, the latest phone from the Google Pixel lineup, was introduced during the Made by Google event earlier this month and released on Oct. 13.

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Pixel 7 is larger and faster than its predecessor. As the “most powerful Google phone yet,” Pixel 7 retails for $599 ($899 for Pixel 7 Pro) and features Google Tensor G2, an enhanced processor, custom-built with Google AI.

The phone is equipped with a 6.3-inch QHD display screen, a pro-triple rear camera system and a refined design encased in a 100 percent recycled aluminum frame (available in matte or polished aluminum). Pixel 7 pro has a 6.7-inch display screen, compared to the Pixel 7’s 6.3-inch screen. Pixel 7 and Pixel 7 Pro features IP68 dust and water protection (Pixel 6 is IP67) and will include a built-in VPN powered by Google One, for added protection.

Pixel 7 and 7 Pro feature face unlock capabilities, along with the fingerprint unlock found in Pixel 6. All three phones are equipped with a Titan M2 Security chip.

Other features include up to 12GB of RAM, motion mode, macro focus, fast charging, and a 24-hour battery (up to 72 hours with Extreme Battery Saver). Pixel 7 and Pixel 7 Pro is available at the Google store and Best Buy, in addition to AT&T, Verizon, and T-Mobile. Get a $100 gift card when you order Pixel 7 at Amazon, while supplies last.

Besides Pixel 7 and Pixel 7 Pro, Google’s latest product lineup includes the Pixel Watch ($349.99) and the Nest Wifi Pro ($399.99), both of which are available now. The Pixel Tablet won’t be out until next year, but it could end up giving Apple’s newly-announced iPad Pro some hefty competition. Pixel Tablet has Tensor G2’s advanced image processing and machine learning, plus video calling, photo editing, hands-free help via Google Assistant, and other favored Pixel phone features.

Order the Google Pixel 7 from Best Buy via the link below.  

Google Pixel 7

$from $599

Google Pixel 7 is available in snow, lemongrass and obsidian colors. Choose between 128 GB to 512 GB of memory. Click here to order Pixel 7 Pro, and here to receive a $100 Amazon gift card with your purchase.

19 Oct 2022

Kanye West Addresses Anti-Semitic Comments, Says He ‘Fought Fire With Fire’

Kanye West sat down for an interview with Piers Morgan on Wednesday (Oct. 19), where the rapper didn’t show any remorse for his string of anti-Semitic comments throughout the past few weeks.

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When asked if he was “sorry” that he said he was going to go “death con 3” on Jewish people, Ye simply replied, “Absolutely not.”

Morgan then quipped, “You should be,” to which Ye repeated, “Absolutely not.”

The English broadcaster continued to push back against West, explaining that his comments are as “racist as anything you’ve been through,” while the Yeezy founder is seen laughing. “Racism is racism, and you know that, don’t you?” Morgan asks.

“Yeah, obviously. That’s why I said it,” Ye replied. “I fought fire with fire. I’m not here to get hosed down. It’s a different type of freedom fighter.”

Later on in the interview, Ye proceeded to give a somewhat feeble apology to “the families of the people who had nothing to do” with his “trauma,” adding that “hurt people hurt people.”

Ye went on an aggressive anti-Semitic rant on social media earlier this month. After posting that he was about to go “death con 3” on “Jewish people” over the weekend of Oct. 8, he was temporarily restricted from using both Instagram and Twitter.

In a Drink Champs interview last week, Ye declared offensive remarks, blaming the murder of George Floyd on fentanyl and claiming that Jewish people are “[owning] the Black voice” through Black people wearing a Ralph Lauren shirt, “being signed to a record label, or having a Jewish manager, or being signed to a Jewish basketball team, or doing a movie on a Jewish platform like Disney.”