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T-Pain is ready to take on his third straight weekend in Indio, California, this time at Stagecoach. The beloved musician shares his journey of performing on the main stage at Coachella, discusses the new ideas he’s bringing to Stagecoach, reflects on Beyoncé, Shaboozey and other Black musicians breaking through in country music, talks about how Wiscansin Fest came to life and how he got GloRilla to join, and opens up about his resurgence and more!
Are you excited to see T-Pain at Stagecoach? Let us know in the comments below!
Tetris Kelly:
Out here in Indio, hanging out with my boy T-Pain, this is what? Weekend three of this for you?
T-Pain:
Weekend three!
Most people say Oh, weekend one, weekend two… weekend three. This is three for T-Pain, this is wild, man, I’m so proud of you, but you’ve been streaming the whole time, like, keeping people involved. So how’s that been to, like, have people along for this journey?
It’s OK, man, you know what I’m saying? It’s, it’s, it’s more frustrating than anything. Can’t get in the pool as much as I want to. That’s why I’m so ashy right now. Just got out the pool. So, you know, everything, I’m just ash. I’m just made of all ash.
Living the life. And I mean, how is it to, like, kind of have people in your personal space? Because, like, some people, I don’t know how many hours you do in sets, but like, when you got a shower, use the bathroom, you need some private time. Like, how was it to be doing that?
I don’t really have, like, personal time, you know what I mean? Like, I’ve grown up, like I got signed when I was 18. So I don’t, I don’t even know what personal life is like, you know what I’m saying? So it’s always been public. You know, going to the bathroom is pretty easy, set the camera just right above, right above the nipple, but no man, people know. You know people understand. Like, when you’re letting them into your life, you can leave them in places.
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JaQuel Knight came up with the choreography for Megan Thee Stallion’s iconic 2025 Coachella set, and we’re taking you behind the scenes of how it came to life.
What did you think of Megan Thee Stallion’s Coachella set? Let us know in the comments!
JaQuel Knight
It gets crazy. It gets really wild, and I’m happy we made it here today. It’s all feeling surreal. You know, I’m very numb in this moment because, you know, we’ve been birthing this thing. So we’ll see.
Tetris Kelly:
You said it’s been months and months and months of prep. So tell me, like, when is the first concept? What’s the first meeting like? What are you establishing there?
The first meeting is, like, what the hell are we doing? What do you say? What do you want to say? How can we say it? You know? Boom. She tells me everything. I take a beat, and then we come back, we look at photos, and we start to go from there, once we have a point of reference.
I’ve seen Megan at Coachella before, so when she’s already kind of been at the surroundings, how does she say, “I want to make this different.”
It’s her just being in a different space right now. She’s been through so much in the two years of like her last performance, so for me, it’s about just making sure she has a voice and something to say and something to bring to the table. And how does that voice feel elevated, feel like she’s grown, feel like she’s learned a lot in those two years.
You, as a choreographer, have a very specific style. How do you mix those two styles where you’re like, I gotta be me and I also gotta be Megan at the same time?
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Peter Criss, the co-founding drummer of rock veterans KISS, has announced the release of his first solo album in almost two decades.
News of Criss’ forthcoming LP was announced via a short video from fansite KissFAQ, where band historian Julian Gill shared details of the record.
“I have an announcement,” Criss tells fans in the video. “I have my new rock and roll album to [share with] you KISS Army guys coming out in the fall, and I really hope you like it, man. And I wanna say God bless to each and every one of you.”
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Gill then took over with the reporting, noting that the record is a “hard rock, kick-ass album” that features the production work of Barry Pointer, while Criss is joined by guitarists John 5 and Mike McLaughlin, bassists Billy Sheehan and Matthew Montgomery, and pianist Paul Shaffer. The record also features the talents of backing vocalists Dennis and Sharron Collins, and Cathryn Manning.
“I was honored to listen to this album at Peter’s studio with him last night, and it was absolutely amazing to hear this new music,” adds Gill. “It was vibrant and powerful.
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“I’m so excited for it to be released, and I think KISS fans are gonna love this album. Peter’s drum sound is absolutely massive and his vocals are powerful. Barry Pointer’s production is stunning, and Peter’s got an incredible group of musicians and background vocalists behind him.”
The as-yet-untitled studio album will be Criss’ first solo release since 2007’s One for All, which itself arrived 13 years after his previous solo release. Criss had previously touched upon a new solo album back in 2017, revealing that he had a “half-finished rock album” whose composition could be traced back to before his 2008 diagnosis with breast cancer. However, Criss explained at the time that his retirement from the touring circuit would hopefully result in its completion.
Criss initially departed KISS in 1980, having performed his last show with the band in December 1979. He would later rejoin the band in 1996 as part of their original lineup reunion, and following a brief departure in 2001, would rejoin the band until his final exit in 2004.
While former KISS members Ace Frehley and Bruce Kulick would make guest appearances with the band in their final years, Criss did not take part in any additional shows with the band following his departure, and has not performed live since his retirement from touring in June 2017.
Kendrick Lamar makes history as the first musician in a Gatorade commercial, Shaboozey stars in the NBA’s playoff commercial, and celebrities are sharing their playoff predictions. Keep watching for the latest updates of musicians in sports! What did you think of Kendrick Lamar’s Gatorade commercial? Let us know in the comments below! Tetris Kelly: Kendrick […]
Vybz Kartel has returned to the U.S. for the first time after 20 years in prison to perform two sold-out shows in Brooklyn, N.Y. We go behind the scenes with the King of Dancehall to see how he feels about being back on tour, his show essentials and more!
Did you see Vybz Kartel live? Let us know in the comments below!
Vybz Kartel:Hi, my name is blank. Wagwan. My name is Vybz Kartel, and I’m here in Brooklyn with Billboard. Where are you?
Interviewer:All right, World Boss, how does it feel to be back in New York?
It feels blessed, you know, because, remember, it’s been 20 years, so for me to be here now, it’s just a feeling of jubilation. It’s a triumphant feeling.
Team Member:This is for you. Congratulations, two sold-out shows, where you need to be love, where the people are.
I’m here with my family, not just my family, family. I’m here with CJ, the promoter, she’s family as well. TJ, Scatter, the whole crew. It feels amazing, and I feel blessed.
What do you remember about the last time you performed in New York?
Sir, I do not remember anything. But in my defense, it’s been 20 years. But if you’re talking about, like, being in the streets mingling with the people from Bronx to Brooklyn to Queens, Flatbush, I’m in White Plains, so it’s giving nostalgia.
What are your dressing room essentials?
My dressing room essentials are beautiful women, expensive clothes and God around us.
What does your preshow routine look like?
Drinking with beautiful women, expensive clothes and God around us.
What song are you most excited to perform?
Oh, “Brooklyn Anthem.” Come on, this is BK.
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Universal Music Group Nashville is undergoing a rebranding under CEO Mike Harris and chief creative officer Dave Cobb. The company will now be known as Music Corporation of America (MCA).
Harris and Cobb came aboard in early February following the departure of UMGN CEO/chairman Cindy Mabe in January. For Harris, it marked a return as he had served as COO/executive VP at UMGN until his departure last September.
“With the popularity of country music and the tremendous impact that it continues to make in popular culture, we recognize the importance of Nashville and the impact it has always made in America,” Harris said in a statement.
Cobb adds “I want to let the art lead, embrace community, and approach the business with intention. We show up, work hard, and put artists, songwriters, community, and fans first. We want to get this right for them. That’s what this is all about.”
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A number of staffing changes have also been made that reflect the changes. Katie McCartney, former GM of the recently shuttered Sony joint venture Monument Records, has been named EVP/General Manager and Tom LaScola is head of artist and audience strategy, through an expanded alliance with his company, The Trenches. The digital promotion and marketing firm formed a partnership with Republic Collective last October.
Under Cobb, the company has also formed a creative strategic alliance with award-winning songwriter Jessie Jo Dillon as the newly minted Song Buddy, a position that highlights the company’s commitment to the vital role songwriters play in the Nashville’s creative ecosystem.
MCA will continue to operate is frontline labels, Mercury Nashville, EMI Nashville, Capitol Nashville and MCA Nashville along with the newly launched Lucille Records, founded by Cobb.
Lucille Records will be lead by Cobb and Austin Jenkins, senior vp of A&R for MCA and Head of Lucille. Its diverse inaugural roster includes Lamont Landers, Landon Smith, Isabel Dumas, and Sons of Habit.
“The incredible staff of these labels will operate with a sense of independence and autonomy, but with a pursuit of excellence and healthy competition as a shared agenda,” Harris said.
In addition to the full resources provided by the Nashville headquarters, MCA artists also leverage the support of the REPUBLIC Collective in the U.S. and UMG globally.
The newly rebranded MCA’s roster includes Alan Jackson, Brothers Osborne, Carrie Underwood, Chris Stapleton, Darius Rucker, Dierks Bentley, Eric Church, George Strait, Jon Pardi, Jordan Davis, Keith Urban, Little Big Town, Luke Bryan, Maddie & Tae, Parker McCollum, Priscilla Block, Reba McEntire, Sam Hunt, Tyler Hubbard and Vince Gill.
Luis R Conriquez has recently faced public backlash for not performing his narcocorridos at his concert due to a ban by Texcoco, and we’re taking a deeper dive into the genre’s controversial history. Keep watching to learn more about the debate on the genre. Do you think narcocorridos should be banned? Let us know in […]
When romantic comedy 10 Things I Hate About You was released in 1999 — a seminal time for the Shakespeare adaptation-as-teen-movie — it was a watershed pop cultural moment. The winning take on The Taming of the Shrew cemented the star power of actors Heath Ledger, Julia Stiles and Joseph Gordon-Levitt, and boasted a spunky […]
As Deltron 3030 reportedly prepare the release of their long-awaited third album, they’ll first be taking a look back at their debut, performing the record in full on their upcoming North American tour.
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The revered hip-hop supergroup – comprising rapper Del the Funky Homosapien (aka Deltron Zero), producer Dan the Automator (the Cantankerous Captain Aptos) and turntablist Kid Koala – will be returning to the live stage this summer, launching a 16-date tour in Vancouver, BC on July 18 before traveling throughout the U.S. and Canada over the next three months.
The tour will see Kid Koala pulling double duty as he opens the shows alongside Lealani, while the main event will see Deltron 3030 performing their self-titled debut album in full.
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Originally released in May 2000, Deltron 3030 didn’t reach dizzying commercial heights, instead peaking at No. 194 on the Billboard 200 and No. 18 on the Independent Albums charts. However, it was highly-regarded by critics, with the hip-hop concept album pairing stark social commentary with tongue-in-cheek humour as atmospheric beats accompanied narratives of dystopian society in the year 3030.
Deltron 3030 were largely inactive in the years following their debut album’s release, though they would re-emerge in 2013 with a sequel record titled Event 2. The album would hit No. 41 on the Billboard 200 and reach No. 6 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart, with the group touring in earnest in the following years.
Currently, the release of a 2016 live album (fittingly-titled Live) is the group’s latest commercial release, though Deltron 3030 have hinted towards a third studio LP in previous years. Alongside news of their forthcoming tour, it’s been confirmed that a new record is indeed in the works, though it’s likely that fans will have to wait until the completion of their live commitments before new material or updates arrive.
Deltron 3030 – 2025 Tour Dates
July 18 – Commodore Ballroom, Vancouver, BCJuly 19 – Summer Concerts at the Pier, Seattle, WAJuly 21 – Revolution Hall, Portland, ORJuly 23 – The Regency, San Francisco, CAJuly 25 – Bellwether, Los Angeles, CAJuly 26 – Observatory, Santa Ana, CAJuly 27 – House of Blues, San Diego, CASept. 24 – Uptown, Minneapolis, MNSept. 25 – House of Blues, Chicago, ILSept. 27 – Majestic Theatre, Detroit, MISept. 28 – The Concert Hall, Toronto, ONSept. 29 – Théâtre Beanfield, Montreal, QCOct. 2 – Big Night Live, Boston, MAOct. 3 – Union Transfer, Philadelphia, PAOct. 4 – 9:30 Club, Washington, DCOct. 6 – Webster Hall, New York, NY
Billboard’s Producer Spotlight series highlights creatives currently charting on Billboard’s producer rankings. Whether they are new to the industry or have been churning out hit after hit, the intention is to showcase where they are now, and their work that’s having a chart impact.
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Michael Uzowuru and J. White Did It are seasoned hitmakers on Billboard’s producer charts. The pair share the top spot on Billboard’s latest R&B Producers ranking (dated April 26, 2025) thanks to their work on SZA and Kendrick Lamar’s “30 for 30.” Uzowuru spends a 10th total week at No. 1, while J. White Did It (real name: Anthony Jermaine White) spends a 13th week on top.
“30 for 30” ranks at No. 2 on the Hot R&B Songs chart, after spending six weeks at No. 1, via 29 million radio airplay audience impressions (up 2% week-over-week) and 9.3 million official U.S. streams, according to Luminate. The song also ranks at No. 25 on the Billboard Hot 100, after hitting No. 10 to become Uzowuru’s first top 10 as a producer and J. White Did It’s fourth. It was released in January on the Lana deluxe reissue of SZA’s 2022 album SOS.
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Uzowuru began producing in the early 2010s with west coast rappers Vince Staples, Earl Sweatshirt and Domo Genesis. Since then, he’s worked with Frank Ocean (Blonde), Childish Gambino (Bando Stone & The New World), Rosalía (Motomami), Kevin Abstract (American Boyfriend), Beyoncé (The Lion King: The Gift) and Halsey (The Great Impersonator), among others.
Michael Uzowuru’s Production History on the Hot 100SZA with Kendrick Lamar, “30 for 30,” No. 10, 2025 (J. White Did It)SZA, “Scorsese Baby Daddy,” No. 41, 2025 (Tyler Johnson, Tyler Page, Owen Stout)SZA, “Notice Me,” No. 44, 2022 (Teo Halm, Carter Lang, thankgod4cody)SZA feat. Travis Scott, “Open Arms,” No. 54, 2022 (Teo Halm, Rob Bisel)SZA, “Diamond Boy (DTM),” No. 60, 2025 (Carter Lang, Declan Miers, The Antydote, Solomonophonic)SZA,” Another Life,” No. 63, 2025 (Rob Bisel, Sir Dylan)Childish Gambino, “Lithonia,” No. 69, 2024 (Childish Gambino, Ludwig Göransson, Max Martin)SZA, “Crybaby,” No. 70, 2025 (Carter Lang, thankgod4cody, Declan Miers)Halsey, “Lucky,” No. 88, 2024 (RAHM, Sir Dylan)Frank Ocean, “Nights,” No. 98, 2016 (Frank Ocean, Vegyn, Buddy Ross)
As for J. White, the producer/songwriter first broke through in 2017 thanks to his work with Cardi B. He produced three tracks from her debut album, Invasion of Privacy, including its Hot 100 No. 1s “Bodak Yellow (Money Moves)” and “I Like It.” He subsequently produced a third No. 1, via Megan Thee Stallion’s “Savage,” featuring Beyoncé, in 2020, and later, tracks with 21 Savage, Doechii, Flo Milli and Latto.
J. White Did It’s Production History on the Hot 100Cardi B, “Bodak Yellow (Money Moves),” No. 1, three weeks, 2017 (Laquan Green)Megan Thee Stallion feat. Beyoncé, “Savage,” No. 1, one week, 2020Cardi B, Bad Bunny & J Balvin, “I Like It,” No. 1, one week, 2018 (Craig Kallman, Tainy, Invincible)SZA with Kendrick Lamar, “30 for 30,” No. 10, 2025 (Michael Uzowuru)Cardi B, “Money,” No. 13, 2018Doechii ft. Kodak Black, “What It Is (Block Boy),” No. 29, 2023Polo G, “Bad Man (Smooth Criminal),” No. 49, 2021Cardi B, “Money Bag,” No. 58, 2018 (Laquan Green)Iggy Azalea, “Sally Walker,” No. 62, 2019
Billboard launched the Hot 100 Songwriters and Hot 100 Producers charts, as well as genre-specific rankings for country, rock & alternative, R&B/hip-hop, R&B, rap, Latin, Christian, gospel and dance/electronic, in June 2019, while alternative and hard rock joined in 2020, along with seasonal holiday rankings in 2022. The charts are based on total points accrued by a songwriter and producer, respectively, for each attributed song that appears on the Billboard Hot 100. The genre-based songwriter and producer charts follow the same methodology based on corresponding “Hot”-named genre charts. As with Billboard’s yearly recaps, multiple writers or producers split points for each song equally (and the dividing of points will lead to occasional ties on rankings).
The full Hot 100 Songwriters and Hot 100 Producers charts and full genre rankings can be found on Billboard’s charts page.
