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Drake dropped off his highly anticipated collaborative album with PARTYNEXTDOOR, $ome $exy $ongs 4 U, and the early returns are in on X and other social media platforms. However, fans are zeroing in on one track, “GIMME A HUG” which sees Drake addressing the Kendrick Lamar feud and throwing a shot at Joe Budden.
Drake, currently on tour in Australia and New Zealand, has largely brushed off the attacks on his name from Kendrick Lamar with some believing he gracefully bowed out. With his focus solely on playing his shows and the new $ome $exy $ongs 4 U project, fans were certain to scour the new project for clues into his current mindset.
Much of the album is solely focused on setting the mood considering the project dropped on Valentine’s Day, but “GIMME A HUG” is the clearest response fans have had in weeks from the Canadian superstar regarding all the chatter around his name and in the wake of Kendrick Lamar’s Super Bowl LIX halftime show that featured the scathing diss track, “Not Like Us.”
From “GIMME A HUG”:
Savage, you the only n*gga checkin’ on me when we really in some sh*t, brother
Melyssa Ford, you a legend from the 6, hate to see you with a d*ck sucker
Joe Budden recently had words for Drizzy after the rapper allegedly took shots at the podcaster on his Finsta account. Ford, the former video vixen and current co-host of The Joe Budden Podcast, received a favorable nod on the track.
Later in the verse, Drake raps, They be droppin’ sh*t, but we be droppin’ harder sh*t (Droppin’ harder sh*t)/F*ck a rap beef, I’m tryna get the party lit” which seems to be the clearest indication that he’s finally moving on from the beef.
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Photo: Getty
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The next big Monster High collectible has arrived and this time, it’s taking cues from last year’s hit film, Beetlejuice, Beetlejuice.
The official Monster High Skullector Beetlejuice Beetlejuice set features dolls inspired by the movie characters of Betelgeuse and Lydia Deetz and is available to order on Amazon here. Originally played by Michael Keaton and Winona Ryder, respectively, the characters are given a goth-glam makeover, complete with outfits and accessories that nod to the hit film franchise.
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Monster High Skullector Beetlejuice Beetlejuice Doll 2-Pack
The Betelgeuse doll gets a gender-bending turn in a striped red suit with a ruffled collar and paired with white heels. The iconic green hair and black and white-striped headband pay tribute to the movie character, while cross-legged beetle earrings pay homage to a scene in the first Beetlejuice film. The doll holds a (human?) heart in their hand as an ultimate finishing touch.
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The Lydia doll, meantime, is decked out in the character’s signature red dress, complete with a torn veil, red tights and red high heels. The Monster High doll carries a bouquet that doubles as a purse.
Both dolls have frightfully authentic makeup looks that are instantly recognizable for fans of the films, and beauty fans alike. Everything comes packaged in a collectible box with two doll stands included. The dolls measure approximately 10 inches tall.
The is an officially-licensed Monster High release that you can find now on Amazon and Walmart. The limited-edition collaboration comes out on March 15, but you can pre-order it online now to ensure delivery. As with all Monster High releases, these dolls are expected to sell out so we recommend pre-ordering and adding to cart while they’re still in stock.
Beetlejuice, Beetlejuice debuted at number one at the box office and has made more than $450 million worldwide to date. The new film featured actress Jenna Ortega playing Astrid Deetz, the daugher of Lydia.
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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Ha*Ash & Thalia, “Amiga Date Cuenta” (Sony Music México)
Just in time for Valentine’s Day, Thalia and Ha*Ash celebrate those sincere friends capable of telling us things straight, even in the most painful moments. In “Amiga Date Cuenta” (which loosely translates to “My friend, open your eyes”), the Mexican superstar and the sisters duo join forces to make a heartbroken friend see that she is not alone and that she deserves better. “If to forget him you need to drink all night/ I am here by your side, far from that jerk/ Friends are for that,” they sing in part of the song, a fresh fusion of Ha*Ash’s characteristic pop-country style with touches of mariachi written by José Luis Roma. Featuring beautiful harmonies from all three artists, who shine both together and separately, the release arrives with a music video filmed outside of New York City that reinforces its message of female solidarity. — SIGAL RATNER-ARIAS
Kevin Kaarl, Ultra Sodade (Kevin Kaarl)
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In a world where everything seems to moving at light speed, Mexican folk star Kevin Kaarl invites listeners to slow down with Ultra Sodade, a body of work that encapsulates an intimate and heart-wrenching journey to healing after a heartbreak. The 13 songs on the albums — all penned by Kevin and produced by his brother Bryan Kaarl — seem more like short stories with Kevin’s lyricism and knack for storytelling taking centerstage.
Kevin’s deep and raspy vocals are accompanied by moody guitars for a stripped-down approach, while also incorporating subtle elements of dream pop and electronic, adding nuances to the production. “Ultra Sodade is the story of a relationship’s end,” Kevin explained in a statement. “It’s the internal struggle to move on, to leave those memories in the past and not let them keep affecting you.” — GRISELDA FLORES
DannyLux, “Ya No Estás” (Warner Music Latina)
With the tender strumming of acoustic guitars, DannyLux unfurls a melancholic yet beautiful song suited for a contemplative day of love with “Ya No Estás,” the first single from his upcoming album. Drawing inspiration from the jazz classic “Misty,” he captures the essence of heartbreak and longing in his lyrics: “Y aquí estoy yo, deseando que otra vez sienta tu amor,” the Mexican-American singer-songwriter croons. The melody gently transitions into somber piano chords, echoing the finality of goodbye and the internal battle between clinging to the past and forging ahead. — ISABELA RAYGOZA
Chris Lebrón, En Honor Al Que Ama (Rimas Entertainment)
Dominican singer-songwriter Chris Lebrón released his highly anticipated debut album, En Honor Al Que Ama, which serves as a heartfelt gift to his fans just in time for Valentine’s Day. This collection not only showcases his exceptional skills as a composer and producer but also signifies a transformative phase in his evolving musical career. With 17 tracks, the album feels more like a collection of love letters. The album’s lead single “Bandido” stands out as a powerful manifestation of heartbreak. Through evocative lyrics, Lebrón expresses his emotional tempest: “I saw the most honest man lie at the altar, and since then, I lost faith in love,” he sings in the Mexican music-inspired track.
En Honor Al Que Ama artfully weaves together a diverse palette of modern and classic rhythms, effortlessly transitioning between genres such as reggaeton, pop, ballads and Afrobeat. Lebrón reflects on the creative process, stating in a press statement, “More than just an album, this was a self-discovery journey that taught me to value every step of my path.” For the set, Lebrón recruits Cosculluela, Farruko, Justin Quiles, Natti Natasha, Manuel Turizo and El Alfa, among other acts, showcasing a blend of musical influences and styles. — INGRID FAJARDO
Ozuna & Kapo, “Mas Que Tú” (Nibiru Internacional/Sony Music Latin)
Ozuna continues to bet on Latin Afrobeat with his new release “Mas Que Tú” in collaboration with Kapo. Produced by Elcreadorhenry and co-written by both artists, the song is a soft and sensual Afrobeat with affirmative lyrics of falling in love. “Nobody kisses better than you/ Nobody has it more than you,” they sing in the chorus, also highlighting the simple and authentic beauty of that special girl. This is not the first time that the Puerto Rican hitmaker has bet on Afrobeats. In 2023 he released his EP Afro, fusing Afrobeats rhythms with his characteristic urban-Caribbean sound. Last year he also teamed up with Key Key for the remix of “Tengo un Plan” and Beéle on “Frente al Mar (Remix),“ both viral hits of the genre. He now continues to solidify the vibes alongside Kapo, one of Billboard’s Artists to Watch in 2025. — JESSICA ROIZ
Check out more Latin recommendations this week below:
The Avicii estate is again opening the vault Friday (Feb. 14), releasing of a new version of the late producer’s 2016 track “Forever Yours.” Titled “Forever Yours – Tim’s 2016 Ibiza Version,” the song comes on the heels of a pair of Avicii documentaries — I’m Tim and My Last Show — released on Netflix […]
In today’s episode of ‘Billboard Unfiltered,’ Billboard staffers Kyle Denis, Damien Scott, and Angel Diaz react to Kendrick Lamar’s Super Bowl halftime show, highlighting the best and controversial moments, discussing Ye’s X rants and more. What did you think of Kendrick’s performance? What do you think of Ye’s X rants? Let us know in the […]
Lola Young‘s “Messy” has bagged a fourth week at No. 1 on the U.K. Singles Chart (Feb. 14). The song first claimed the top spot in January, dethroning Gracie Abrams’ “That’s So True,” which held the No. 1 position for eight non-consecutive weeks.
By earning her fourth week at No. 1, Young is now the longest-running British female artist to be at the top spot since Adele’s “Easy on Me” in 2021. It breaks a tie with Kate Bush’s “Running Up That Hill,” (2022) and Kenya Grace’s “Strangers” (2023), which both had three-week stints at the top.
This achievement also coincides with Young’s continued success on the Billboard Hot 100, where “Messy” currently sits No. 19, a slight fall of five places week-on-week. “Messy” is featured on her sophomore studio album, This Wasn’t Meant for You Anyway, which was released in May 2024; the song has now crossed 300 million streams on Spotify.
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In March, Young will compete for a BRIT Award in the pop act category against Charli XCX, Dua Lipa, Jade Thirlwall and Myles Smith. She also appeared on Tyler, the Creator’s Chromakopia as a guest vocalist on “Like Him.”
Speaking to Billboard U.K., Young discussed the success of “Messy” and why the message of self-acceptance had resonated with fans. “For a long time, I wanted to represent this ideal of Westernized beauty – but then I realized I’m not that,” she said. “I now choose to give realness and truth. I’ve got a bit of a belly out, I f–king swear a bunch and I have fun. And that’s what people are resonating with.”
Following his Super Bowl Halftime Show performance, Kendrick Lamar’s “Not Like Us” finishes the week at No. 2 and gives the Compton rapper his highest ever placing on the U.K. Singles Chart; the song initially landed at No. 6 upon release last year.
Lady Gaga’s “Abracadabra” rises three spots to No. 3, while Chappell Roan’s “Pink Pony Club” makes moves up to No. 4. Chrystal’s “The Days” rounds out the week at No. 5, and there’s post-Grammys boosts for Benson Boone (“Beautiful Things,” No. 6) and Doechii (“Denial Is a River,” No. 9).
Taylor Swift has made history by surpassing Madonna to become the female artist with the most No. 1 albums in U.K. chart history (Feb. 14). Swift claims her 13th chart-topper on the Official Albums Chart with Lover (Live In Paris), a live album first released in 2023 and recently reissued on special heart-shaped double-vinyl released […]
JISOO had a lot to discuss with Billboard this Valentine’s Day, from the qualities she looks for in a partner to her love for Britney Spears.
In a video interview with Billboard News posted Friday (Feb. 14) — the same date the BLACKPINK star dropped her highly anticipated debut solo mini-album, AMORTAGE — JISOO spoke about some of the songs on her new record, including the very Valentines-appropriate “Your Love,” on which she sings about a perfect romance. When asked to describe what her “dream man” would be like in real life, the star had three qualities in mind.
“I love it when someone has similar taste in food,” she shares. “And if they treat me well, that makes me really happy. But I think having the same sense of humor is the most important. If that doesn’t click, things can feel a bit dull.”
Featuring three other tracks besides “Your Love,” AMORTAGE is just one of several solo projects the ladies of BLACKPINK have dropped during their band break this past year. ROSÉ released solo album rosie in December, LISA’s Alter Ego is coming later this month, and JENNIE has been sharing singles such as January’s “Love Hangover” with Dominic Fike as she puts the finishing touches on her own album.
While she was preparing her own solo music last year, JISOO says she had one legendary pop soloist in mind. “I love Britney Spears,” she tells Billboard. “I grew up listening to Britney Spears, and every time I prepare for a solo release, I always find myself going back to her ‘…Baby One More Time’ music video as a reference.”
“I love that pop vibe, and I always say, ‘I want to shoot something with that kind of energy,’” she gushes. “It’s a video I consistently use as inspiration when creating my own.”
But while working on AMORTAGE — in addition to filming her latest Korean screen project, Newtopia — has been fulfilling, JISOO says she’s excited to reunite with her bandmates in 2025. Earlier this month, BLACKPINK teased that a world tour is imminent this year, about which the “FLOWER” singer said she “can’t wait.”
“Last year, as each member focused on individual activities, we all grew a lot,” she tells Billboard. “Now, as we come together for this year, I feel like we’ll be able to return with an even bigger and more spectacular presence. Everyone’s excited about it, and we’ve been sharing ideas. We’ve already done a lot of preparations for this year.”
“Working solo has been an amazing experience,” JISOO adds. “But honestly, it can get a little lonely sometimes.”
This week, all eyes have been on one of the biggest stages in the world: the Super Bowl. And while Kendrick Lamar’s halftime show rightfully has had many people talking, he wasn’t the only performer that stole the show at the NFL’s main event — New Orleans native Jon Batiste kicked off proceedings with a stirring, emotional rendition of the National Anthem, seated behind a multicolored piano on the Super Dome field.
And that was just the most high-profile moment for Batiste, the seven-time Grammy winner and former bandleader for The Late Show With Stephen Colbert. The day before the main event, Batiste also put on the Love Riot festival in New Orleans’ Lower 9th Ward neighborhood, which featured performances by him, Ledisi, Preservation Hall band, Flavor Flav, Dee-1 and more. And helping knit all that together was Culture Collective founder/CEO and Batiste’s business partner Jonathan Azu, who earns the title of Billboard’s Executive of the Week.
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Here, Azu — a Superfly and Red Light Management veteran, who also teaches music business at USC and is a governor of the Los Angeles chapter of the Recording Academy, among other endeavors — explains his role in helping Batiste secure those events during Super Bowl weekend, as well as the other projects he and Batiste have in the works. “When you’re working with someone as innovative as Jon,” Azu says, “the best thing you can do is give them the freedom to create and then support them and lead our internal team in bringing that vision to life.”
This week, Jon Batiste performed the National Anthem prior to Super Bowl LIX. How did that come together?
We received a call from the team at Roc Nation, which selects all Super Bowl performers, asking if Jon would be interested in performing the National Anthem in his native New Orleans. I was thrilled that he said yes — there’s truly no one better suited for the moment than him. Additionally, the other co-producers on the halftime and pregame performances, Diversified Production Services and Jesse Collins Entertainment, were teams I had recently collaborated with on NBC’s Live From Detroit: The Concert at Michigan Central in May of last year. Having just worked closely with them on a major live broadcast, I was excited to reunite for another high-profile moment only months later.
How did he want to present his rendition differently from others, and how were you guys able to pull that off?
Reimagining the National Anthem is always a challenge because it has been performed — at the Super Bowl alone — 57 times before. The goal was to create something that would not only stand out but also move people in a way they hadn’t experienced before. Jon is the perfect artist to take on this challenge, bringing a blend of musicality, storytelling and emotional depth. My role was to provide him with the tools, resources and space to develop and execute his vision. When you’re working with someone as innovative as Jon, the best thing you can do is give them the freedom to create and then support them and lead our internal team in bringing that vision to life.
The day before, he put on the Love Riot Festival in New Orleans. What key decisions did you make to help make that happen?
When Jon committed to performing at the Super Bowl, it was important to both of us to integrate a meaningful community outreach initiative into the weekend. Jon is from New Orleans, and my mother is as well, so I spent a lot of time there growing up. While most visitors during Super Bowl weekend stay in or near the French Quarter, we wanted to ensure we were making an impact in communities that don’t always receive the same economic boost — particularly the Lower 9th Ward.
To bring this vision to life, we sought a partner who shared our commitment to community engagement. We were fortunate to connect with He Gets Us, a faith-driven media campaign that was already involved in this year’s Super Bowl advertising. They became an invaluable partner in helping us realize the festival. My role was to work closely with their team to execute Jon’s vision seamlessly — overseeing guest talent coordination, production logistics, sponsorship integration and advising on the overall audience experience.
What were some of the toughest aspects of putting together that festival on Super Bowl weekend?
One of the biggest challenges was assembling available production teams and securing guest talent in the middle of one of the busiest entertainment weekends of the year. Super Bowl weekend brings an influx of major events, making it difficult to lock in resources and availability. However, we were able to navigate these hurdles and successfully produce the festival.
The end result was incredible — we had over 5,000 people come out for what turned into a beautiful day. The festival featured performances from guest artists like Ledisi, Tarriona ‘Tank’ Ball, Preservation Hall, Flavor Flav and Dee-1, creating an environment that was both celebratory and impactful. From an executive producer standpoint, my role was to ensure everything came together in the right way, including logistical planning for artists to seamlessly move in and out of the festival while keeping the focus on community engagement.
You’ve worked at Superfly and Red Light before beginning to work with Jon. How has that past experience helped you to help grow his career?
Superfly and Red Light laid a strong foundation for me, both in terms of skills and relationships. Being among the first handful of employees at Superfly, the co-founders of Bonnaroo Music and Arts Festival and Outside Lands Music Festival, equipped me with the skill set, knowledge and relationships essential for organizing large-scale events in a city. My time at Red Light, where I operated as general manager, provided me with a deeper understanding of representing talent on significant stages, whether at festivals or high-profile events like the Super Bowl. Both experiences were instrumental in preparing me for the multifaceted demands of supporting Jon’s career.
He’s been a staple on late night television and won a Grammy for album of the year. How do you keep pushing his career forward?
Jon is the ultimate multi-hyphenate, and there’s truly no limit to where his career can go. I’m incredibly excited about what lies ahead for him, not just in music, but in business as well. We’re working closely to develop intellectual property and dynamic business opportunities that go beyond the stage. A great example is the launch of the new Jon Batiste Jazz Club at Baha Mar in Nassau, Bahamas. Jon and his programming team are curating what happens on those stages 365 days a year, and Jon is involved in all aspects of the consumer experience — from what they see on stage to the artwork within the venue to the dining experience. This holistic approach ensures we’re not only expanding his artistic footprint but also building a lasting legacy.
What do you have in the works moving forward?
Like many of the talented individuals I work with, I’m a multi-hyphenate in the business world. In addition to Culture Collective, where I’m focusing on developing artists like Leon Thomas — whose album MUTT is skyrocketing — I have multiple business ventures on and off the stage. I partner with Jon Batiste and his company, JBI, to build out his multi-layered ecosystem around the world. In my partnership with Joe Killian, we are forging groundbreaking collaborations through our consultancy, Killian + Co., where we’ve spearheaded innovative, high-impact campaigns with artists like Olivia Rodrigo, Tyler, the Creator and Eminem for global brands like Ford, American Express and Julien’s Auction House.
In the academic space, I’m dedicated to cultivating the next generation of music executives. This includes my four-year tenure as an adjunct professor at USC’s Thornton School of Music, where I teach music business. I also serve on the Board of Trustees at Drake University, my alma mater, where I first started in music as president of the concert committee. Additionally, I help steer the Recording Academy into the future by serving as a governor of the Los Angeles chapter.
For the record, Selena Gomez liked Benny Blanco first. The singer reveals that crucial piece of their relationship puzzle in the couple’s first joint interview in Interview magazine, in which they talk for the first time about Blanco’s elaborate proposal, their just-announced, upcoming joint album, I Said I Love You First (March 21), and how a chance meeting more than 15 years ago eventually resulted in true love.
“We got in the studio to work on a song and we just talked; that’s how easy it was for me. I liked him before he liked me,” Gomez, 32, said of working closely with the producer/songwriter she first met in 2013 when she was a teenager signed to Disney Records and her mom set up a songwriting meeting between them to see if they would click.
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“When she started putting out music, I was so into it. I feel like she was the original sad girl,” Blanco said of Gomez, noting that he had “no idea” she liked him when they re-connected to work on music years later. “I feel like you could be friends with someone forever but not know until you have that one night,” Gomez said. Blanco, admittedly oblivious at the time, said he told Gomez he could introduce her to some of his friends and maybe “hook you up with some dates,” not realizing Gomez liked-liked him.
“And then we were texting afterwards and we decided to get dinner the next day. I guess she thought it was a date and I had no idea it was a date,” said Blanco. “The second time we hung out, our second date, I was like, ‘Wait, does she like me?’ I was clueless. From then on, it was easy. You know when you think you met the right person, you’re like, ‘Oh my God.’ But it feels so different. The second we started hanging out, I was like, ‘This is my wife.’ I was telling my mom, ‘This is the girl I’m going to marry.’”
And indeed, they are now engaged and at one point Gomez showed off her pointy marquise-cut diamond ring, telling the writer that ever since the days of “Good For You” — the lead single from the singer’s 2015 sophomore album, Revival — “that’s the diamond I’ve always dreamed of.” Ever self-deprecating, Blanco breathed a sigh of relief and noted of his ring choice, “I just tried not to f–k up. That’s all I did.” It’s worth adding that Blanco co-produced two poignantly titled songs off Revival, “Kill ‘Em With Kindness” and “Same Old Love.”
And while Gomez suggested that she was not “anal” about the choice of ring, Blanco playfully added that his fiancé did show him some designs and would “always throw little hints” around. Blanco said he responded with, “‘Yeah, but if I ever made one, would you want it like this?’” to test her preferences. “And then she changed her mind halfway through,” he said, revealing that the original design had “huge baguettes on the side” before Gomez realized she wanted something a bit less ostentatious. (Not to worry, Benny assured the writer that they now have “extra baguettes” that are going to be turned into earrings.)
Blanco didn’t spill the beans about the details of his proposal either, but called his elaborate set-up “the sickest surprise,” though he said the necessary lying to keep his plans secret was beginning to cause problems. “At the end, she was starting to get upset because she was like, ‘Why aren’t you coming home tonight?’ And I was like, ‘Oh, I’m just at my friends.’ I almost did it early. But I nailed it, I think,” Blanco said.
For further proof of how smitten the two are with each other — as if any was needed after Thursday’s (Feb. 13) drop of their draped-all-over-each-other video for the upcoming album’s first single, “Scared of Loving You” — Blanco, 36, said his ebullient, extroverted nature is a balance to Selena’s serene, introverted vibe.
“It’s so good because I get her out, and she calms me down when I need it. She’s the first person that I’ve been with where I’m like, ‘I don’t even give a f–k what’s going on. I could sit in this bed with you for 72 hours and feel like I didn’t miss anything,’” he said of the singer he began dating in June 2023 before getting engaged last month. “She’s like my f–king heroin and Xanax combined. Whenever I’m feeling anything but perfect, she knows the exact thing to say. I’m so pissed that it took this long. It’s like, ‘How did we not figure this out sooner?’”
Blanco said he’s learned to “worship the ground she walks on,” a feeling that’s mutual, sharing that there is “no ego between us. She’s praying for me to win and I’m praying for her to win.”
Knowing that Hollywood and music history are littered with the burnt-out husks of projects born of love that ended in heartache, Blanco said that when they began working on the album in secret at home they agreed that if it ever got weird, “‘we can cancel it immediately.’” How chill were the sessions? Gomez revealed that at some points she was lying down in bed, or at least sitting on it, while recording vocals.
Gomez told the magazine that she’s not working on any new pop songs after hinting in December that she was “too old” to do the pop thing anymore, mostly because she’s still doing the rounds promoting her big screen role in the Oscar-nominated drug kingpin musical Emilia Peréz. “This is probably the most exciting time for me in my career and personal life, like genuinely,” she said of the buzz around the film nominated for 13 Oscars.
Gomez hasn’t released a full-length album since her third studio project, 2020’s Rare, which debuted atop the Billboard 200 and spawned her first-ever No. 1 hit on the Billboard Hot 100 with “Lose You to Love Me.” In 2021, she dropped a Spanish-language EP, Revelación.
As for his next big project, after working with so many A-listers (Justin Bieber, Britney Spears, Katy Perry), Blanco said he was feeling stuck until he began working on the couple’s album. “This was such a cathartic experience and a way to get back into it,” he said. “I never put stuff out just to put stuff out. I wait until the perfect thing happens and I’ve been blessed to work with so many f–king good artists, including you. I feel like all my dreams came true. I feel like this was one of the last dreams, finding the perfect person to spend the rest of my life with. I know it sounds so corny and cheesy.”