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GloRilla is currently trekking across North America while headlining her Glorious Tour, but ended up having to cut a St. Louis show short earlier this week after several fights broke out among the audience. Explore Explore See latest videos, charts and news See latest videos, charts and news Per local affiliate FOX 2 Now, brawls […]
Sleep Token scores its first No. 1 on a Billboard multimetric chart, topping the Hot Hard Rock Songs tally dated March 29 with “Emergence.”
“Emergence” rises to No. 1 after debuting at No. 2 on the March 22-dated list via just one day of tracking data after being released on March 13. (It earned 2 million official U.S. streams, 211,000 radio audience impressions and sold 1,000 downloads that day, according to Luminate.)
In the week ending March 20, its first full seven days of tracking, “Emergence” accumulated 9.9 million streams, 528,000 impressions and 2,000 downloads.
The band’s Hot Hard Rock Songs reign follows a No. 2-peaking song in 2023 in “The Summoning.” “Emergence” became Sleep Token’s seventh top 10 on the ranking upon its debut, tying it with Ghost and I Prevail for the eighth-most top 10s since the list began in 2020.
Most Top 10s, Hot Hard Rock Songs
19, Bring Me the Horizon
17, Linkin Park
13, HARDY
10, Falling in Reverse
10, Five Finger Death Punch
10, Foo Fighters
8, Metallica
7, Ghost
7, I Prevail
7, Sleep Token
“Emergence” also rules Hard Rock Digital Song Sales for a second week and bows at No. 1 on Hard Rock Streaming Songs. It’s the band’s first ruler on the latter, eclipsing the No. 16 peak of “The Summoning,” and marks the survey’s first No. 1 debut since Linkin Park’s “The Emptiness Machine” in September 2024.
“Emergence” concurrently vaults 30-7 on Hot Rock & Alternative Songs, Sleep Token’s first top 20 (“The Summoning” peaked at No. 22), and starts at No. 57 on the all-format Billboard Hot 100, the band’s maiden appearance. Its 9.9 million streams are even enough for a No. 50 debut on Streaming Songs, the first hard rock song to reach the list since Linkin Park’s aforementioned “The Emptiness Machine.”
As the lead radio single from Even in Arcadia, Sleep Token’s upcoming fourth studio album (May 9), “Emergence” debuts at No. 31 on Mainstream Rock Airplay, equaling the peak of “Granite,” the band’s only previous appearance on the ranking, from 2024.
Even in Arcadia is the follow-up to 2023’s Take Me Back to Eden, which debuted and peaked at No. 2 on the Top Hard Rock Albums chart dated June 3, 2023, and has earned 744,000 equivalent album units to date.
Bad Bunny‘s Un Verano Sin Ti is the gift that keeps on giving. The LP’s “Me Porto Bonito” — featuring Chencho Corleone — achieved a new milestone as it surpassed the one billion views on YouTube, nearly three years after it was released. The feat scores the Puerto Rican superstar his 16th Billion Views Club entry […]
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Source: Getty Images / Greg Abbott / Jasmine Crockett
Democratic Rep. Jasmine Crockett continues to get under the skin of MAGA Republicans. The snowflakes are now BIG MAD after the Texas congresswoman referred to Governor Greg Abbott as “Hot Wheels.” X was quick to remind them of their blatant hypocrisy.
Republicans are clutching their pearls and pounding their fists on their desks in anger after Jasmine Crockett referred to Greg Abbott, who uses a wheelchair, as “hot wheels.”
Their bellyaching comes as they were loudly silent as Elon Musk referred to a user on his platform as a “chickensh*t “R” word” as well as other people he disagrees with.
Republicans also didn’t seem to care when the leader of their party, Donald Trump, mocked New York Times reporter Serge Kovaleski, who has a disability.
Fox News reports that one Republican, Rep. Randy Weber, plans to introduce a resolution to censure Crockett. “Meanwhile, the actions of Jasmine Crockett – stooping to vile levels of discrimination and despicable political attacks – are nothing short of reprehensible,” Weber said to the news outlet.
Jasmine Crockett Defends Her Use of “Hot Wheels”
Crockett has responded to the “outrage” and defended her use of the term.
“I wasn’t thinking about the governor’s condition—I was thinking about the planes, trains, and automobiles he used to transfer migrants into communities led by Black mayors, deliberately stoking tension and fear among the most vulnerable. Literally, the next line I said was that he was a “Hot A** Mess,” referencing his terrible policies. At no point did I mention or allude to his condition. So, I’m even more appalled that the very people who unequivocally support Trump—a man known for racially insensitive nicknames and mocking those with disabilities—are now outraged,” Crockett wrote on X, formerly Twitter.
She continued, “Keep that same energy for all people, not just your political adversaries. Finally, this is yet another distraction. Instead of obsessing over and hanging on to my every word, maybe my political foes should focus on doing the work of the people who elected us to improve their lives.”
Crockett also shared a link to a story about Abbott spending $148 million bussing migrants to other parts of the country.
Social Media Is Siding With Jasmine Crockett
Jasmine Crockett can also count on social media to have her back as they are pointing out the hypocrisy and many instances of Republicans resorting to name-calling, racist remarks, and other egregious behavior.
“Stop with the performative outrage MAGA. You’re not offended by Jasmine Crockett calling Greg Abbott, Governor Hot Wheels. You had no issues with voting in a rapist, racist, habitual liar and felon into the presidency. I thought y’all liked it when people tell it like it is?,” one user on X wrote.
Another user on X wrote, “Don’t let Jasmine Crockett calling Greg Abbott “Governor Hot Wheels” distract you from his desire to take healthcare away from Texas women & children. Don’t let that distract you from how his state is 41st in education.”
We here at HHW and iOne Digital don’t rock with ableists. Still, in this case, we see the jig with Republicans, especially the same group of Republicans who have referred to Crockett as “ghetto” and “loud.” We are currently whitewashing the country by getting rid of DEI.
Just saying.
You can see more reactions in the gallery below.
Russell Wilson is heading back to the Empire State. A year after he signed a one-year deal with the Pittsburgh Steelers, the 10-time Pro Bowl quarterback signed another one-year deal this week — $10.5 million with the New York Giants to become their starter, the NFL announced on Tuesday (March 25). To celebrate, the football […]
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Michael Archer Jr., the son of the late Angie Stone and D’Angelo, took to social media earlier this week to honor his mother in a series of moving images and videos. An artist himself, Michael Archer Jr. used the moment to call attention to Angie Stone’s lasting musical contributions and the close bond the pair shared.
Michael Archer Jr., the only son of Angie Stone and D’Angelo, posted on his Instagram page on March 21 and posted a video that depicted his first thoughts about his mother’s loss, how he learned of her passing that fateful morning, and how he’s managing the process.
Between videos of Archer, who performs under the name SwayvoTwain, sharing his emotional remembrance with several images, he also mentioned the acknowledgement of observers that Stone and his two “aunties” from the group Sequence were the first female Hip-Hop group as being a fairly new occurrence.
In many respects, it appears that Archer is thankful for the love that fans had for his mother and the outpouring of support, but he seemed to say that was something his mother sought. In addition, Archer was clear in putting those who used his mother’s kindness and her passing as a means to call attention to themselves on notice.
The video can be video below.
—Photo: Matt McNeill – PA Images
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In celebration of Big Sean Night at the Detroit Pistons vs. San Antonio Spurs game on March 25, the “Yes” rapper has dropped a limited-edition apparel collection in honor of the Motor City, his hometown.
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The collab features a unique T-shirt and hoodie adorned with a custom Detroit, World Tour 2025 design. Initially revealed at the NBA game, the collection has made its way online for Detroit fans to shop. So if you couldn’t attend Big Sean Night, you can now shop the collab on the Pistons’ site. Shop quickly though, because both tops are selling fast.
The Pistons announced Big Sean night back in February and planned to celebrate his ties to the NBA organization, his impact in Detroit, as well ashis birthday, which is also on March 25. The night immersed fans in all things Sean Don, including in-game activations, contests and prizes, and a special halftime performance by Detroit rapper Nasaan, curated by Big Sean.
Trending on Billboard
Big Sean x Detroit Pistons
Courtesy Photo
“Being from the city, you all know how much this means to me and the journey we all have to go through to make something of yourself, so I truly appreciate the support,” said Big Sean in a statement. “To be able to work with the Pistons as the creative director of innovation is a dream come true, and I can’t wait to bring Don Life to the city.”
As a part of the night, the Pistons are also creating an exclusive Big Sean bobblehead available to fans only through a special charitable ticket package, which includes the one-of-a-kind bobblehead and a ticket to the game. Proceeds from the ticket package will benefit the Detroit Pistons Foundation as well as the Boys & Girls Club of Southeastern Michigan via the Sean Anderson Foundation. Tickets must be purchased by visiting the Pistons site.
The limited-edition collaboration follows the release of Sean’s self-help book, Go Higher, as well as linking with Will Smith for a Matrix-inspired music video for “Beautiful Scars.”
Shop the Big Sean x Detroit Pistons limited-edition collection below.
Detroit Pistons x Big Sean Detroit World Tour T-Shirt
Detroit Pistons x Big Sean Detroit World Tour Hoodie
Last summer, Chappell Roan made headlines for loudly calling out predatory fan behavior through a series of social media posts. Months later, she says her interactions in public have drastically changed, with the “Hot to Go!” artist theorizing on Call Her Daddy that listeners are now too afraid to approach her.
“I think people are scared of me,” Roan told host Alex Cooper on the podcast posted Wednesday (March 26). “I think I made a big enough deal about not talking to me that people do not talk to me.”
“I’ve been with people, like, friends who are artists, and when they’re with me, they’re like, ‘It’s a force field around us. People don’t come up to me if I’m with you,’” the Missouri native continued. “I’m just like, ‘Damn, baby. You say it too. You say, ‘Don’t touch me, don’t touch me. Don’t look at me, don’t touch me. I don’t know who you are.’ And they won’t come up and bother you.”
Trending on Billboard
The interview comes about seven months after Roan sparked widespread discourse about how society treats celebrities in public, with the Grammy winner at the time emphasizing how scary it can be to have people touch her without consent, harass her family members or track her whereabouts. “Women don’t owe you s–t,” she wrote in an August note on Instagram. “I chose this career path because because I love music and art and honoring my inner child, I do not accept harassment of any kind because I chose this path, nor do I deserve it.”
On Call Her Daddy, Roan clarified that just because she felt the need to set boundaries with fans, doesn’t mean she enjoyed doing it. “It hurts that I have to … I know it really hurts people,” she said. “They feel like it’s me disrespecting them, that I owe it to them and that, how dare I call it abuse or complain about success. I get that a lot, but I’m not complaining about success. I’m just complaining about creepy behavior. I love admiration — everyone loves admiration. I just don’t want you to interrupt me when I’m having a fight with my girlfriend. Don’t be like, ‘Can I get a photo?’ when I’m crying, talking to my girlfriend. That’s f–king crazy.”
The reason Roan felt compelled to call out fans in the first place was due in part to how quickly she became a household name within the span of just a few months in 2024, thanks to the runaway success of her Billboard Hot 100 hit “Good Luck, Babe!,” summer festival appearances and album The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess. “It happened literally overnight,” Roan recalled to Cooper.
As her fame levels multiplied, so did the amount of creepy experiences with fans, a metamorphosis that Roan compared to a “second puberty.” “It’s like everything is gonna change, and everything is gonna hurt and everything is gonna be uncomfortable now,” she said. “Katy Perry was so straight up … When she came up to me at [Charli XCX and Troye Sivan’s] Sweat Tour, she’s like, ‘Just don’t read the comments, honey. Bye bye.’ She just, like, hopped off, and I was, like, actually cackling. Like, why am I doing this to myself?”
“You don’t realize how many people are watching you, and you don’t realize they are,” Roan added. “Some people want me dead. It’s crazy. People know everything about me. People know my flight numbers. People know everything.”
Listen to Roan on Call Her Daddy below.
The Contenders is a midweek column that looks at artists aiming for the top of the Billboard charts, and the strategies behind their efforts. This week, for the upcoming Billboard 200 dated April 5, we look at the chances of engaged performer-producer duo Selena Gomez and Benny Blanco’s collaborative set I Said I Love You First to unseat Playboi Carti’s Music atop the chart.
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Selena Gomez & Benny Blanco, I Said I Love You First (Friends Keep Secrets/Interscope): One of the most-anticipated pop sets of early 2025 comes from two longtime pop hitmakers: cross-platform megastar Selena Gomez and shapeshifting producer Benny Blanco. Last Friday (March 21), the pair – who have been sporadic collaborators for a decade and are now also a real-life couple who announced their engagement in December – released their first full album together, I Said I Love You First, following a whirlwind rollout.
Trending on Billboard
The set’s 14 tracks all of course feature vocals from Gomez and production from Blanco, but they’re hardly the only performers or behind-the-scenes contributors on the set. It also includes guest appearances from fellow contemporary stars Gracie Abrams (on the pre-release Billboard Hot 100 hit “Call Me When You Break Up”), J Balvin, GloRilla and The Marias, as well as writing and/or production assistance from recognizable names Finneas, Justin Tranter and Julia Michaels, Dylan Brady (of 100 Gecs) and Cashmere Cat. Even Charli XCX shows up to co-write and performs background vocals on “Bluest Flame,” like she did for Gomez’s hit “Same Old Love” a decade earlier.
The album is also available for purchase in a wide variety of physical formats. There are seven different vinyl variants for sale — color variants and some with alternate covers, and one signed version available on her webstore – as well as three CD versions (standard, signed and a Zine/CD in expanded packaging) and a deluxe box set containing branded merch and a CD. What’s more, five d2c-exclusive download album variants have been released on her store, each purchasable for $5 –- all featuring alternative covers, three with a single bonus track each (“Stained,” “Talk” or “That’s When I’ll Care (Seven Heavens Version)”), and one being a commentary edition with 14 bonus commentary tracks about the album’s songs.
Gomez is certainly no stranger to the top of the Billboard 200, having bested the chart with each of her three solo albums to date, going back to 2013’s Stars Dance. Whether she will continue the streak as half of this star duo remains to be seen, however – it will have a high bar to clear, coming during the second week of the year’s biggest-debuting hip-hop album to date, and it will be hurt by the lack of an established lead single or major breakout hit on streaming. But the album has picked up on DSPs over the course of its release week, with Marias teamup “Ojos Tristes” and buzzy post-breakup song “How Does It Feel to Be Forgotten” climbing into the top 100 on both the Apple Music real time and Spotify Daily Top Songs USA charts.
Playboi Carti, Music (AWGE/Interscope): Carti’s Music bowed atop this week’s Billboard 200 with an eye-opening 298,000 units, according to Luminate, confirming the cult rapper’s long-rising stardom and setting a new bar for hip-hop releases in 2025. The blockbuster set also blanketed the Hot 100, charting every one of its 30 tracks on the listing, with its two best performing tracks (“Evil J0rdan” and “Rather Lie” alongside The Weeknd) entering in the top five, at Nos. 2 and 4, respectively.
With no physical version of the album yet shipped to fans – the album is available for pre-order in eight separate variants on his website – the set’s performance was almost all due to streaming. (There were three digital album variants available on his webstore, along with a widely available standard edition download, which helped account for its 14,500 in first-week sales.) Music’s streaming numbers should remain mighty in the set’s second week, though it has begun to slip noticeably from its early dominance on DSPs – while the album absolutely dominated the real-time and daily listings on Apple Music and Spotify its weekend of release, it is now down to just two songs in the top 20 on both services, and neither in the top five on either.
However, reinforcements are on their way. On Tuesday (March 25), the rapper announced the release of the album’s deluxe edition – subtitled Sorry 4 Da Wait – which includes four totally new tracks tacked on the end (which were actually the bonus tracks he tacked onto his webstore exclusive download variants of the album a week ago), bringing the tracklist to a staggering 34 cuts, and ensuring fans have plenty of reason to revisit Music this week. Given the set’s ever-expanding streaming volume, it’s expected to post units in the six digits in its second week, and be a tough album for even a star duo like Gomez and Blanco to unseat atop the Billboard 200.