Billboard

11 Dec 2024

Billboard Latin Artist on the Rise: Christian Alicea Talks Puerto Rican Heritage

As Billboard Latin Artist on the Rise, Christian Alicea talks about the importance of his Puerto Rican heritage and his love for salsa music. Watch the singer reflect on his rising star.

Christian Alicea:
Family, how are you? This is Christian Alicea, and I am Billboard’s Latin Artist on the Rise. My passion for music was born through my family. I am the youngest in my household, and when I was growing up, I saw that my dad was a musician. My two older brothers are musicians. I grew up with that musical vein. It was impossible to stray into any other area aside from music. I believe that my passion for music is thanks to my family. My first musical inspirations has always been artists who make very tropical music. Elvis Crespo is never forgotten. Marc Anthony, La India, which is influenced by my mother. 

La India:
I like that you show what you are. You are a musician, you go out, you do your thing, you perform, you do what you have to do. 

Christian Alicea:
The fact that I’m Puerto Rican, I believe influences a lot of things from the way we are raised, the way we communicate, the music we listen to, the slang we use. We love rhythm. We love everything that has a sound, everything that moves us. And I think something that characterizes the energy of the Boricua, I don’t know, I think it’s a lot of things, plus the history, which, thanks to many of those who started the music in Puerto Rico … We are now given the light to do many things and represent it with great pride. 

Keep watching for more!

11 Dec 2024

[MARRIOTT TEST VIDEO] STRAY KIDS PERFORMANCE | Billboard Music Awards 2023

Stray Kids perform “S-Class” and “LALALALA” at the 2023 Billboard Music Awards, giving “LALALALA” its debut performance at an awards show. Stray Kids are a finalist for Top Global K-Pop Artist and Top K-Pop Album at the 2023 BBMAs. The 2023 BBMAs feature performances from artists whose music dominated the Billboard charts between November 19, 2022, and October 21, 2023. This performance is courtesy of Billboard and Dick Clark Productions.

Read the lyrics below and stay tuned for more Stray Kids news.

11 Dec 2024

[SPONSOR TAG TEST] MORGAN WALLEN ACCEPTANCE SPEECH | Billboard Music Awards 2023

Morgan Wallen accepts the awards for Top Male Artist, Top Hot 100 Artist, Top Streaming Songs Artist, Top Country Artist, Top Country Male Artist, Top Country Tour, Top Billboard 200 Album for “One Thing At a Time,” Top Country Album for “One Thing At a Time,” Top Hot 100 Song for “Last Night,” Top Streaming Song for “Last Night” and Top Country Song for “Last Night” at the 2023 Billboard Music Awards.

11 Dec 2024

Luis Figueroa Shares 5 Things You Didn’t Know About Him: Watch

Luis Figueroa  shares his favorite food, touring with Romeo Santos and more while playing 5 Things You Didn’t Know About Me with Billboard.

Luis Figueroa:
I am Luis Figueroa, and these are Five Things You Didn’t Know about me here in Billboard. First, I think that I’m going to say that I like one of my favorite snacks, one of the things I like to eat at night are sardines with salt and lemon.

One of the sports I used to play for most of my life was tennis. For those who like tennis out there, if you want to play a little game, talk to me.

I love to skate, Rollerblade, you name it. Anything with “blade,” it is Luis Figueroa. I love that.

I toured with Romeo Santos for four years as a backup singer.

I like to read all kinds of things. Right now I’m excited about the novels because a lot of people say that I’m gossipy because I like novels, but I like novels. A couple of sci-fi, but I like reading stuff. It was something I picked up in 2024 and have taken with me.

Five Things You Didn’t Know about Luis Figueroa here in Billboard. 

11 Dec 2024

Tyler, the Creator: The Most Honest Version Of Himself Creates ‘Chromakopia’ | Billboard Cover

Never one to follow the status quo, Billboard cover star Tyler, the Creator sits down and shares the most honest version of himself that went into his Billboard chart-topping album, ‘Chromakopia.’ The hit-making artist looks back on his 13-year career and how Camp Flog Gnaw has grown with him throughout the years. He also shares his new ventures, what he’s looking forward to in the future and more!

Producer:

Can you do it once more leaning back, though, for that mic. Thank you. Thank you. I just don’t want you to be in front of it. Yeah, I got you. 

Tyler, the Creator:

No, no, lift that **** we gettin’ the mic. Hey guys, it’s me, Tyler, and you’re here with Billboard Magazine, and I can’t wait ’til you see all the cool things that we have coming for you guys, guys, including exclusives and exclusives. F*ck yeah. I’m so fortunate like 13 years in, and my latest sh*t is my biggest? Bro that’s rare. There’s n***a’s is out here that they first album is the only one that they get to perform when they go places like they have to use that as a marketing thing, because that’s the one people connected to the most. And kind of sometimes it might feel like the other sh*t’s disregarded. So I’m like, bro, this album ate 13 years later, and this, doing this, that don’t happen much, so I’m over here sitting like, oh, I don’t know anything. I thought I had a grasp on this sh*t. I thought I knew song structure. And like, oh, all the kids are on TikTok. No one cares about lyrics anymore. I’m a boomer, and I’m like no, this sh*t is turnt. I don’t know sh*t, n***a I’m so confused in like the most positive way, and I really love it. Like, first week No. 1 was like all right, cool, sick. Kind of figured it’s been a while. 

Keep watching for more!

10 Dec 2024

Taylor Swift’s ‘The Eras Tour’ Final Show: Everything You Missed | All Access | Billboard

Taylor Swift wrapped up her two year trek of ‘The Eras Tour’ in Vancouver this past weekend, and we’re showing you everything you missed from the final night!

Tetris Kelly:

It’s Tetris Kelly with Billboard News at the very last night of Taylor Swift’s The Eras Tour. We’re telling you everything you missed from the show. We’re giving you one moment from each era in Billboard’s All Access. Taylor kicked off her very last set of surprise songs with “A Place in This World” from ‘Debut’ and of course, we have to give it up for the best bridge on ‘Fearless.’ She always enchants us for ‘Speak Now’ and never, ever forget her first Hot 100 No. 1 from ‘Red.’ We grabbed our passport to Canada as Taylor took us to ‘1989’ and she took us to church one last time during ‘Reputation.’ During ‘Lover,’ Taylor reminded us how special the night was. We all went to the woods for ‘folklore,’ cue the “Champagne Problems” standing ovation. The ‘Midnights’ set sparkled as we said goodbye to an era, and we were completely shook by her most recent era addition: ‘The Tortured Poets Department.’ What a night we had fighting dragons with you, Taylor. I had too much fun tonight, long live. For everything you missed at the last night of ‘The Eras’ tour head to billboard.com.

10 Dec 2024

Fat Joe on ‘Paradise’ With Anitta, DJ Khaled Friendship & More | Behind the Photo

Fat Joe shares how he filmed the “Paradise” music video with Anitta and DJ Khaled, how LL Cool J inspired him to rap and more in Behind the Photo.

Fat Joe:
Hey, what’s up, y’all? This is Fat Joe. We are on Billboard, and this is called Behind the Photo.

My big day, I promised my mother I would graduate one day. I didn’t know that somehow God would give me a doctorate. Shout out to Lehman High School in the Bronx. This is a very big day for me, and it was such an honor for me to get it. I flew right back to Miami the next day just to give my mother the diploma and tell her that I promised I would give it to her. So you don’t know how things are gonna come. You know, God blessed me in this way. I need that.

You know for being such a superstar, being so lit right now, she’s so humble in real time, and we shot the video to “Paradise” behind Khaled. We jumped out in Washington Heights with no permits everywhere. She never complained once. She did the video. Beautiful person. I need that Brazil. This guy is crazy. It’s my brother, Khaled, this is, uh, football Sunday, I believe, early in the morning in Orlando. This is just before he crowd surfed in the crowd. I was so terrified for him, because he really jumped out there and had the students carrying him, throwing them up in the air. But you already know that’s my brother. We the best, yes.

It’s me and my idol, LL Cool J. I would never rap if it wasn’t for LL Cool J, he inspired my whole life. He’s always mentored me and given me knowledge to go to the next level. So shout out, LL Cool J, James Todd Smith, my brother, I love you.

10 Dec 2024

SZA & Luke Combs Sizzle at Nos. 7 & 8 on Billboard’s Top 10 Artists of 2024 | Billboard News

SZA and Luke Combs take over the seventh and eighth spots of Billboard’s Top 10 Artists of 2024. Keep watching to see who landed where and how their discography landed them their spots!

Make sure to tune in on Dec. 12 for the Billboard Music Awards airing at 8 p.m. ET/PT on FOX and Fire TV channels and on-demand on Paramount+.

Tetris Kelly:
We’re counting down numbers seven and eight of the year’s biggest acts on Billboard‘s Top Artists chart for 2024, and at No. 8? Luke Combs! The country king is No. 8 after a busy year on both the Billboard 200 albums chart and the Hot 100 songs chart. He scored his sixth consecutive top 10-charting effort on Billboard 200 in June with Fathers & Sons, debuting and peaking at No. 6. He debuted eight new titles on the Hot 100 during the chart year, including two that reached the weekly top 40: his Twisters soundtrack contribution “Ain’t No Love in Oklahoma” and Post Malone’s “Guy for That,” on which he’s featured. And we’re not done!

At No. 7 on the countdown? SZA! SZA scores the No. 7 spot, thanks to the enduring success of her two full-length studio albums SOS and CTRL on the Billboard 200, as well as multiple hits on the Hot 100. SOS, which was released in late 2022 and debuted at No. 1, has yet to depart the chart, while CTRL, released in mid-2017, has been on the chart in almost every week since its release. Four songs that premiered on the Hot 100 chart during the 2023 chart year continued their runs into 2024: “Kill Bill,” “Snooze,” “Slime You Out” with Drake, and “Rich Baby Daddy” with Drake and Sexy Red.

Keep it locked here all week for more artist reveals and don’t forget to tune in to our Billboard Music Award pre-show special on Dec. 12, followed by the main show happening right after at 8 p.m. ET/PT on FOX and Fire TV channels and on-demand on Paramount+.

10 Dec 2024

SZA Teases ‘Lana’ Release in New Trailer | Billboard News

SZA posted a teaser on her Instagram for her highly anticipated new album, Lana. Keep watching to see the teaser and the fan theories on her new music!

Tetris Kelly:
The R&B soulstress SZA has given fans something to talk about with the release of a quick teaser for her upcoming Lana deluxe album. Two years to the day since the original release of SOS, SZA shared a video to social media accompanied by an unreleased track that samples the Isley Brothers’ “Voyage to Atlantis.” The teaser shows SZA in the woods having a much needed moment to herself before closing with overlaid text which sees Lana appearing above the words “SOS Deluxe”. The video is captioned with the words, “Clock starts now. Happy anniversary.”

Internet sleuths have pointed out that SZA is wearing a shirt with a five on it, and the dark part of the stream in the video also seemingly makes a five. What does it all mean? Is that a hint at the album release date or something more? Only time will tell, but we’re looking forward to whatever SZA has in store.

For more in music, stay tuned here at Billboard News.

10 Dec 2024

4Batz on ‘Thank You Jada’ Album, ‘Act II: Date @ 8’ With Drake, Says Ye Is a ‘Genius’ | Billboard News

4Batz sits down to share details about his new project, Thank You, Jada, which continues the story from U Made Me a St4r. He discusses meeting Drake, the creation of “Act II: Date @ 8,” and its rise into the top 10 of the Billboard Hot 100. Additionally, he talks about spending time with Ye, the inspiration behind “Hood Grammy,” how he initially never envisioned a career in the music industry and more!

Michael Saponara:
What’s going on, everybody? Welcome to another episode of Billboard News. You let me host another one. I’m Mike Saponara. We have the guy with us, the Heartbreak Kid. Can you believe it? 4Batz in the building. 

4Batz:
Your boy in the middle, what’s up? 

How we feeling? Good? 

Amazing, blessed. 

In New York.

In New York.

How’s your trip treating you? 

Beautiful. It’s always a trip. It’s always a good trip. 

Well, we love that you’re here, bro. You got your project coming on the way, Thank You, Jada. How do you want to set this up that differentiates from your first project, U Made Me a St4r?

Honestly, I want to continue the story. You know, I look at my life like a story. I look at my life like I think it’s always been interesting like a book. You know, that’s why I named them. The first was acts, chapters, you know, it’s a story. I’m just trying to continue with it.

Like we’ve heard you say, Thank You, Jada, before that was the tour and everything. Why’d you want to continue, I guess, with that theme? 

Because it’s going to be just one continuation to the story. But also, you know, a lot of people didn’t see, you know, a lot of people know the tour. See the tour before, right? So the tape is kind of showing like, you know, you made me a star. Thank you, Jada. That’s why I thank you. After this, I don’t know, it might be over with. You know, you gotta talk to the author about that. 

Keep watching for more!