Author: djfrosty
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01/24/2025
The Detroit rapper live tweets games he bets on, and it’s usually some of the funniest content on X.
01/24/2025
Billboard’s Friday Music Guide serves as a handy guide to this Friday’s most essential releases — the key music that everyone will be talking about today, and that will be dominating playlists this weekend and beyond.
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This week, Bruno Mars gets sexy with Sexyy, Travis Scott delivers his stadium-sized new single and Central Cee proves that patience pays off. Check out all of this week’s picks below:
Sexyy Red & Bruno Mars, “Fat Juicy & Wet”
Bruno Mars has scored a pair of recent smashes, “Die With a Smile” and “APT.,” by finding a midpoint between his pop sensibility and that of his respective collaborators, Lady Gaga and ROSÉ; with the audacious “Fat Juicy & Wet,” however, Mars fully enters the world of Sexyy Red, dropping a gleefully explicit anthem built around the rising pop star’s sexual innuendos and a club-pulverizing beat.
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Travis Scott, “4×4”
For his first solo track since 2023, Travis Scott builds on his maximalist aesthetic with “4×4,” which pairs orchestral heft with a pitch-shifted flow. Scott debuted “4×4,” which will help support California fire relief funds through CD single sales, at the College Football Playoff National Championship Game earlier this week, and the studio track earns its stadium debut.
Central Cee, Can’t Rush Greatness
The title Can’t Rush Greatness nods to how long UK rapper Central Cee has been waiting for this crossover moment: after years of building hype, collecting collaborations and scoring increasingly bigger hits (culminating in “Band4Band,” last year’s team-up with Lil Baby), he now has a guest-packed, generally riveting debut full-length to call his own.
FKA Twigs, Eusexua
A decade’s worth of FKA Twigs albums have been leading to Eusexua, the culmination of her experimental amalgamation of pop, R&B, electronic and club music that finds Twigs carving out accessible pathways for new listeners while remaining as daring as ever for longtime fans. The opening run of the title track, “Girl Feels Good” and “Perfect Stranger” is perhaps the most entrancing 10-minute stretch of music we’ve gotten so far in 2025.
Tate McRae, “Sports Car”
Tate McRae has grown increasingly confident in her dance-pop formula since “Greedy” became the biggest hit of her career a little over a year ago, and while “Sports Car” crackles like her recent single releases, the whispered chorus elevates her latest, drawing the listener in before shoving them back out to dance.
Teddy Swims, I’ve Tried Everything But Therapy (Part 2)
“Lose Control” is a hard commercial bar to reach — the single did top Billboard’s year-end Hot 100, after all — so on his latest release, Teddy Swims wisely tries not to re-create his breakthrough smash, and instead flesh out some husky sing-alongs like “Guilty” and “Funeral,” as well as corral some new famous friends like Coco Jones, GloRilla and Giveon.
Kane Brown, The High Road
As Kane Brown keeps cranking out crossover country hits — “Miles on It” with Marshmello was another top 20 smash last year — he concurrently continues telling stories that reach a wide listenership, and on new album The High Road, that includes heart-wrenched fare like the Jelly Roll duet “Haunted” as well as a pair of new collaborations with his wife, Katelyn Brown.
Editor’s Pick: Djo, “Basic Being Basic”
“End of Beginning” became a well-deserved viral breakthrough for actor Joe Keery’s musical project Djo last year, and in 2025, things sound like they’re about to get stranger: “Basic Being Basic” is a lovably off-kilter new single, a callback to ‘80s synth-pop with a hook that highlights Keery’s upper register and lyrics that should launch a million TikTok lip synchs.
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Kendrick Lamar dropped a bombshell ahead of the 2025 Super Bowl—R&B sensation and frequent collaborator SZA will be joining him as his special guest during the halftime show. The announcement has fans buzzing, especially after months of speculation about who Kenny might bring out for this massive stage. Before the NFL named Kendrick the halftime performer, many had hoped it would be Lil Wayne, given the game is being played in New Orleans this year, but Kendrick’s choice of SZA has quickly turned heads in the best way.
The pairing makes perfect sense. Kendrick and SZA have built a natural chemistry over the years, with their collaborations on tracks like “All the Stars” and “Luther” becoming fan favorites. Their bond runs deeper than just music—they’ve consistently pushed creative boundaries together. Given their shared history and mutual respect, it’s no surprise fans have been clamoring for a full-length collaborative project from them, and with this halftime performance, the dream of a joint album might feel closer than ever.
Could Kendrick use the Super Bowl stage as the perfect platform to announce a surprise album? The timing is certainly right, and the stage doesn’t get bigger than this. While nothing official has been confirmed, fans are already speculating about the possibility of a major announcement during the performance. Either way, the show is shaping up to be an unforgettable moment for both Kendrick and SZA’s legacies—and for hip-hop and R&B fans everywhere.
Robbie Williams has secured a huge milestone on the U.K. Album Charts. Better Man, the soundtrack to his recent biopic of the same name, has given the British pop icon his 15th No. 1 album, and sees him pull ahead of The Rolling Stones (14) in the all-time rankings. He is now tied with with […]
Rising British artist Lola Young has secured her first No. 1 single in the U.K. with viral hit “Messy” (Jan. 24). Young is the first British female artist to hit the No. 1 song with a solo hit since Kenya Grace’s “Strangers” in November 2023. The song knocks Gracie Abrams’ “That’s So True” from the […]
New Music Latin is a compilation of the best new Latin songs and albums recommended by Billboard Latin and Billboard Español editors. Check out this week’s picks below.
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Alejandro Sanz & Grupo Frontera, “Hoy No Me Siento Bien” (Sony Music Latin)
Alejandro Sanz’s latest song — in collaboration with Grupo Frontera — thrives on a cacophony of sounds. “Hoy No Me Siento Bien” is unconventional both lyrically and musically, and that’s what makes it a really great song in general. Sanz and Frontera’s Payo sing about why it’s OK not to feel great all the time: “If you see me crying, it’s not that I’m not happy/ And it isn’t about love either, sometimes you just cry to cry,” Sanz wails at the top of the song. Sonically, the record begins with a pop melody, then goes tropical, pop again and then becomes a fusion of both. A subtle norteño accordion accompanies the song, giving it that Grupo Frontera signature sound. Produced by Edgar Barrera, “Hoy No Me Siento Bien” is the second single off Sanz’s upcoming album. — GRISELDA FLORES
Cazzu, “DOLCE” (DALE PLAY Records/Rimas Entertainment)
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On the heels of her very vulnerable ballad “La Cueva,” Cazzu powerfully kicks off the new year with “DOLCE,” her intent at the Música Mexicana genre. The surprising corrido tumbado — produced by her longtime producer Nico Cotton — is about a complex relationship characterized by betrayal, backed by pleasing requintos. The Argentine artist reflects on her emotions and the consequences of this betrayal, ultimately leading her to seek revenge in a creative and expressive manner. “You forgot that I taught you everything you know,” she fearlessly chants. “DOLCE,” named after a red dress she owned from the designer brand, is the second single off of her upcoming studio album set for April. — INGRID FAJARDO
J Balvin, “Rio” (Sueños Globales/UMG Recordings)
J Balvin kicks off 2025 with new single “Rio.” Though the title honors his son’s name, the edgy, romantic reggaetón track is in fact a sweet dedication to his partner, Argentine model Valentina Ferrer — or, how the lyrics say, to the one who returned his faith. In the over three-minute track, the Colombian artist reflects on his personal and spiritual healing process, paying tribute to one of the most important people who has supported him along the way: the mother of his son. “Why look on the street for what is abundant in my house?/ A good-natured babe, who has a hot body and face […] God made her humble but I see her as very expensive,” he chants, also clarifying that he’s left the party life behind because “the VIP is now at home with you.” The heartfelt music video captures never-before-seen videos of the couple, who’s been together since 2018. — JESSICA ROIZ
Danny Ocean, “Vitamina” (Atlantic Records)
A dose of vitamin D – as in Danny Ocean – arrives this winter in the form of a song. The Venezuelan musician continues spreading his warmth and good vibes with the new single “Vitamina,” which in the midst of freezing temperatures and even snowfalls in Florida transports us to the heat of the beach while evoking an old love. “You and me, lying on the beach watching the sun go down/ You and me, although I never told you, I am yours my love/ You and me, can you imagine?/ A love that never ends/ It’s like a vitamin, you and me,” says the infectious chorus.
“‘Vitamina’ is a love song based on the beach, that place of escape, of being with a real love and having a peaceful time,” Ocean tells Billboard Español. “It’s like escaping the routine and going to a place where you feel free, a place where you are with that person you love having a good and peaceful time, where things happen just as you want them to happen.” It is a pop song with the distinctive Caribbean flavor that has made of Danny Ocean an instantly recognizable artist. — SIGAL RATNER-ARIAS
Soge Culebra & Abraham Mateo, “Rayo de Luz” (Atlantic Records Spain)
Spanish artists Soge Culebra (real name: Gabriel Gómez) and Abraham Mateo join forces to sing about unconditional love on the collaboration “Rayos de luz.” The immersive track features impeccable production that highlights elements of electronic pop and contemporary R&B. The lyrics highlight the transformative power of love, depicting it as a force capable of being a guide through difficult times, through people who become true rays of light. The two performers’ voices complement each other perfectly, adding rich and dynamic nuances to the melody. — LUISA CALLE
Varios Artists, Vallenatos Norteños: Un Homenaje A Colombia Desde México (Warner Music México)
In today’s Latin music, fusion genres are in the spotlight. From Los Esquivel’s pulsating electro-corridos to Yahir Saldivar’s cumbias bélicas and Fuerza Regida’s Jersey corridos, the soundscape is as fresh as ever. Enter Vallenatos Norteños, emerging as a riveting but seamless blend that merges Northern Mexico’s fervor with Caribbean Colombia’s soul. This 11-track album, presented by Warner México, weaves accordion-laden melodies with joyous cumbia rhythms: an intersection that highlights the inherent complementary nature of these two music traditions. Noteworthy are the duets such as Jorge Celedón and Ana Bárbara’s “Olvídala,” and Pipe Bueno with Angelina Victoria in “Niégame Tres Veces.” Produced by Abelardo Rivera, José Luis Cornejo, Guillermo Mazorra, and Jair Alcalá, the compilation serves as a cultural bridge that celebrates and blends two rich musical heritages into an exhilarating listening experience. — ISABELA RAYGOZA
Check out more Latin recommendations this week below:
Wait till he gets his money right. Ye — formerly known as Kanye West — claims he’s back in the billionaires club with an alleged net worth more than $2.7 billion. Yeezy took to his Instagram on Thursday (Jan. 23) to boast about the billionaire status allegedly done by business valuation company Eton Venture Services, […]
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The daughter of Dr. Martin Luther King, Rev. Bernice A. King, condemned St. Louis rapper Sexxy Red for an AI photo post of her late father on the national holiday honoring his memory.
The 26-year-old rapper posted two AI photos of the Civil Rights icon on Monday (Jan. 20), to her X account. In one image, she is shown dancing seductively close to Dr. King while another shows her walking alongside King and other Civil Rights leaders. According to TheGrio, the posts garnered more than 50,000 likes before they were deleted.
Rev. King reacted to the images calling them “deplorable.”
“This is intentionally distasteful, dishonoring, deplorable, and disrespectful to my family and my father, who is not here to respond himself because he was assassinated for working for your civil and human rights and to end war and poverty,” she wrote in a reply on X the following day.
Within hours, Sexxy Red offered an apology to Rev. King, writing, “You ain’t wrong,” adding, “Never meant to disrespect your family my apologies. Just reposted something I saw that I thought was innocent.”
Rev. King, who is the CEO of The Martin Luther King Jr. Center for Nonviolent Social Change, accepted the rapper’s apology writing on X, in part, “Thank you for your apology, which I sincerely accept. Please know that it was not my intention that you be denigrated. I value you as a human being.”
“I hope you understand my concerns about the image,” she continued. “I know that my father has become a bit of a caricature to the world and that his image is often used with no regard to his family, his sacrificial work, or to the tragic, unjust way in which he died (a state-sanctioned assassination).”
She added, “I earnestly wish that people would imagine what it would feel like to see their deceased, murdered father repurposed for party fliers, unjust legislation, etc.”
She closed the note writing, “All the best to you, young lady.”
Other social media users were not as forgiving with many blasting the “Pound Town” rapper calling her “ghetto” and “trashy” among other names. Rev. King pushed back against those remarks as well, writing in reply to a post, “Please don’t project your thoughts onto me. I don’t believe Sexyy Red to be a ‘degenerate,’ ‘ghetto,’ or ‘trash.’ I have spoken out in the past about the use of and comparison to either of my parents to denigrate other people,” according to TheGrio.
In other news, Rev. King recently shared a statement on news that President Donald Trump plans to declassify her father’s FBI files. The statement read, “Today, our family has learned that President Trump has ordered the declassification of the remaining records pertaining to the assassinations of President John F. Kennedy, his brother Robert F. Kennedy, and our father, Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
“For us, the assassination of our father is a deeply personal family loss that we have endured over the last 56 years. We hope to be provided the opportunity to review the files as a family prior to its public release.”
She added that at this time, the King Family is not taking any interviews as they await further information.
For 21-year-old singer/songwriter Karri, he didn’t choose to learn the piano — his mother made him.
“Filipino parents. They make you go to piano lessons, I’ll tell you that,” says the Bay Area star. “Dude, I had to do piano lessons until like eighth grade. [I’m] thankful, though, because I wish I would have kept going knowing what I know now.”
Now, Karri is a thriving R&B freshman with major-league co-signs ranging from Drake to Lil Baby and Kehlani. After his song “3 AM in Oakland” bubbled into a sleeper hit on social media in 2023, Karri received a phone call from Drake’s right-hand, Chubbs, and soon after, landed a deal with his imprint PFL.
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“I remember a mutual friend of ours texted me and said, ‘Drake and Chubbs heard your music,’” remembers Karri. “I was on the game, and I was like, ‘What are you talking about, bro?’ He was like, ‘Stay by your phone. He’s gonna call you.’ Chubbs called me, and that same night, I was at his studio playing music. From there, we just went to Toronto. Now Chubbs is like the big brother. I appreciate everything Chubbs has done for me so far. It’s only up from here.”
Karri adopted Drake and Chubbs’ disciplined approach and buried himself in the studio, sometimes for long stretches, until he pieced together his debut project, Late Night Slider Music. Released last month, the six-track EP is a seamless fusion of Karri’s Bay Area roots and his profound admiration for Toronto’s moody R&B sonics. His crown jewel, “Oakland Pt. 2,” is the sequel to his 2023 hit, “3 AM in Oakland,” where his slow-burning “Lo N Slo” sound thrives.
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“Late Night Slider Music just felt like the perfect collection of songs you can play in a whip, smoking late night and cruising,” he says. “If you wanna pull up on someone late-night, play this sh-t. You wanna just be driving in the city, play this s–t.”
Get more acquainted with Billboard’s January R&B Rookie of the Month, Karri, below, as he talks about linking up with Drake and Chubbs, his affinity for The Bay, his desire to grow as a songwriter, and more.
What has been the most enjoyable part about your journey so far?
Honestly, just making the new music and casting a vibe everywhere I’m at. I feel like every time I’m in a new place, it’s always a new vibe. I always make different vibes in different places. When I’m in the city, I make great music. When I’m in L.A., I make great music. When I’m in Houston, Toronto, or even the Philippines, everywhere I go, I make different vibes and curate them to where I’m at.
You haven’t done too many interviews, and there’s hardly any information about you online. How would you break down your come-up story?
I really wouldn’t be doing music if it wasn’t for my cousin Danny or my friend Joel. My cousin Danny used to pick me up from high school and I didn’t play basketball anymore. So he would pick me up, we’d go to my mom or auntie’s crib and he had the little recording setup in the closet. I would just go and record with him. It went from a hobby to “I’m kind of good with this. Let me keep going.”
Did you get full support from your family when you decided to pursue music?
At first, my mom was confused. I feel like she’s still confused. [Laughs.] She comes from the Philippines, so the way of life in the Philippines is a little bit different. She understands now. She’s proud. She just always worries about me, because she was a single mom growing up. Shout-out to my mom. She didn’t get it, but she does now.
When did that moment for her click?
Honestly, when I got the Drake DM. She was like, “OK.”
When I dived into your catalog and listen to your earlier tracks like “Rosetta” and “Kiki,” it sounded like two different artists versus now. It gave me Lil Mosey vibes.
I was still in high school, bro. I was trying to figure it out. You know what’s crazy? When I was 15, 16, I was at my homie Isaiah’s house and I remember I was like, “If he can do it at this young age, I can do it.” What’s stopping me from trying to pursue this? It’s kind of crazy that you say that.
Your big break came courtesy of your “3 AM in Oakland” record. When did you realize this had strong potential?
There’s a funny story with that song. Originally, it was a Bay record. I did it in Oakland. The reason why it’s called “3 AM in Oakland,” is because I couldn’t think of a name for the song. I was like, “We’re in Oakland. It’s 3 AM.” Then, we actually didn’t have that slow-down piano [breakdown in the song]. I was in the studio with P-Lo one day in San Francisco. I went into the piano in the live room, played that, sang that song over and I was like, “This is kind of fire.”
So I posted it, and the next video exploded. I was like, “Damn. I can finally do what I want in this R&B stuff.” I don’t have to worry. It was kind of cool. It just went.
You mentioned P-Lo and he’s a huge pillar down in The Bay. Who were some people who supported you early on from the city?
Growing up, HBK Gang. P-Lo, Iamsu!, [Kool] John, and Jay Ant. So them being my big bros now is kind of cool, because I grew up on their music — and honestly, it kind of inspires my sound. So for them to be the OGs — it’s kind of crazy calling them the OGs, ’cause they’re like 31 — it’s cool just having them support and really give me the green light in The Bay.
Toronto played a huge part in the sound and recording process for your debut EP Late Night Slider Music. What were you able to gain there versus when you’re recording back home in The Bay?
Being in Toronto, it’s all dark R&B, so I just embraced that when I’m out there. I really try to zone in on making that kind of sh-t versus when I’m out in the Bay. When I’m in Toronto, I’m in that mode. It’s just trying to find the balance between how do I make San Francisco and Toronto relate on a record. I could talk about San Francisco s–t in that dark Toronto R&B element.
What’s the best advice Chubbs has given you so far?
Stay in the studio. He called me two days ago and was like, “Don’t leave the studio. You’re pumping out crazy hits. Don’t leave.” He actually gave me a good example: He said when Drake is in that bag, he doesn’t leave the studio for three days. So I needed to start getting in that mode. I’m in the studio a lot, but the advice he gave me was just keep being in the studio. I love being in the studio regardless.
A song I enjoyed a lot from you in the past is “Chasing You,” because it’s you in a different kind of bag, which is pop / R&B and showed that you’re kind of limitless as a songwriter. Which song best reflects your potential as a songwriter?
That’s a good question. I would probably say “Oakland Pt. 2.” It just had a lot of little moments on that record where I was like, “This was a great, well-written song.”
Was it hard to record that record, knowing the success of “3 AM”?
Honestly, no. It just came to us. We were in the studio one day. It was me, [my manager] Blaise, Thomas and my homie, Matt. We were like, “Damn. This could be the Part 2 to ‘Oakland.’” I was like, “Damn. It actually can be.” I went back to the crib and played it on the piano and it just worked out.
When Drake DM’d you his suggestion, was that for “3 AM in Oakland” or “Oakland Pt. 2?”
That was for “3 AM in Oakland,” but it just felt right to let that fly. I kept that in for a year and then I was like, “Let me just let that fly.”
Have you been able to see Drake in the studio, and if so, what were some things you picked up from him?
Not yet, but I’m sure one day in the future.
When you think of the brotherhood that PFL has as a label, it isn’t at all competitive. So how do you guys push each other while still trying to make sure you get the job done from your respective ends?
It’s crazy. We can all get angry and mad at each other, and I feel like that’s just the best part about it — because we always figure it out at the end of the day. I feel like the best part of that is making sure we’re all aligned on s–t. That’s really how stuff gets figured out. It’s all family at the end of the day, whether we agree or not. We always figure out how to make s–t happen.
Your “Lo N Slo” sound is becoming a thing now. Is that something you plan to grow and nurture for the future?
I don’t know. I think it’ll just pop up in a random little places. I don’t wanna make it like the whole vibe.
What was the most challenging song for you to write and record on Late Night Slider Music?
Probably “Impromptu,” because that record took a month to finish. Usually, I’ll finish songs in like a week, but that just took like a month, because we had to put in a B-section. It was just a lot of moving parts to get that record done. It was a fun record to make, but it was challenging figuring out the structure.
How involved are you on the production side of things?
I’m very hands-on. I’ll literally touch everything. I don’t know. I just like being creative with people. I don’t wanna just sit back and kick it in the studio. I want to be present and a part of everything that’s going on.
What do you feel you’ve learned most on the production side during this recording process that you’re going to carry on with you for the rest of your career?
That space is the most valuable part of any record. Having space on any record is probably the best advice anybody has given me. Simplicity in a record is what makes a record. That’s what I feel like I’m gonna carry on with this whole process. Simplicity and not making s–t too complex.
Also, no features on the project. Why did you go in that direction?
I just wanted to come out the gate, showing people I can do it myself and not with any features. I’m sure in 2025 it’s gonna be a fun year. With this project, I just wanted to keep it me.
I think it’s impressive that you just turned 21, but you have grown-man subject matter in your music. How were you able to get to that level of writing at such a young age?
You know what’s crazy? I don’t really base s–t on my experiences — I base it off other people talking to me, and I’ll grab some s–t from there and put it in a song. I’m 21. I’m young. So I haven’t really experienced a lot, rather than what a 28 or 30-year-old has. Hearing them talk about what they talk about, I’ll just take it and put it in a song. That’s how some of [my] s–t gets made.
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The dating scene for the past few years has been struggle to say the least and if ya’ll thought things would be easier for celebrity couples expecting a baby, think again.
According to People, Coi Leray has taken to social media to fill the world in on how her baby daddy, Trippie Redd did her dirty while she was three months pregnant with their child. Taking to Instagram to break the devastating news the “Self Love” rapper wrote “💔 Nothing worst than being cheated on. I wouldn’t wish this pain on my worst enemy. 😢 God bless.” The news comes just days after Leray revealed that she and Trippie Redd were expecting.
Continuing to share her feelings on social media, Leray shared a post from X which read “I believe that people’s actions can make it clear that they have no respect or regard for you, regardless of what they say. Their actions clearly indicate that they don’t value you. When you notice this, take it for what it is. Remember, actions speak louder than words.”
People reached out to reps for both Coi Leray and Trippie Redd, but haven’t received a response as of yet.
Our only question is, why do women keep letting Trippie Redd smash? No shots. Just sayin.’
Interestingly enough Trippie Redd and Coi Leray did briefly date back in 2019 before calling it quits. Then things picked back up in 2024 after Trippie seemed to make his way back into Leray’s life.
People reports:
In August 2024, Leray and Redd seemed to rekindle their romance when the “Lemon Cars” performer posted a video call between her and Redd on X. “Sleeping on FaceTime, waking up on FaceTime,” she wrote in one post.
In September 2024, Redd confirmed to TMZ that he and Leray were dating again and he slid into her DMs in hopes of giving their romance a second chance.
You know what they say, sometimes God brings your ex back into your life to see if you’re still that [redacted].
Whether Leray will just continue on as a single parent given Redd’s infidelity or if she’ll forgive him in an attempt to make things work is anyone’s guess. But either way, we’re wondering if Benzino will get involved in this situation as someone done did his baby girl dirty.
What do y’all think about Coi Leray revealing that Trippie Redd played her while being pregnant? Let us know in the comments section below.