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For the last few years, Lil Nas X has carefully built up his public persona as a pop provocateur, master marketer and hilarious internet troll. But in a new clip, the rapper is stripping away all the facade and letting fans get to see the person underneath. On Thursday (Jan. 18), Lil Nas X unveiled […]
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Hello Kitty has always been a classic character, and now she’s celebrating her 50th anniversary with the cutest collaboration with Crocs. The special-edition Hello Kitty Crocs officially dropped on Wednesday (Jan. 17) and are still in stock, but most likely not for long.
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Now, you can sport the famous comfy clogs with designs inspired by the Sanrio character, including her classic red bow and blue overalls. Styles come in adult and kids sizes, and you can choose from the Classic Clog, Stomp Slide and Siren Clog. To go alongside the special Hello Kitty Crocs, the brand has also launched exclusive Jibbitz charms, which start at $5 and are purrfect for decorating and customizing all of your Crocs.
The shoe brand has been tapping celebrities and beloved franchises such as Shrek and Barbie to collaborate on collectable styles, and Hello Kitty is no exception. Unlike the traditional Crocs shoes, though, these collaborations are known to sell out quickly, which means you won’t want to hesitate before clicking “add to cart.”
In case your size is out of stock, you may be able to snag a pair of the shoes through resale retailers such as StockX and eBay.
Unleash your nostalgic side and upgrade your shoe collection with these paw–some styles that are not only eye-catching and display-worthy, but will stylishly show off your love with of the character.
Keep reading to shop the Hello Kitty and Crocs collaboration.
Crocs
Hello Kitty Classic Clog
The Classic Clog gets a Hello Kitty-approved makeover that includes her iconic red bow and a blue trim inspired by her go-to overalls. The interior features the plush yet supportive foam material that’s both waterproof and lightweight to help keep you comfy all day long.
Crocs
Hello Kitty Stomp Slide
Elevate your outfits in a pair of Stomp Slides that not only include a platform sole, but also feature an open-toe design — perfect for showing off a fresh pedicure. Decorating the upper is a white and red graphic of Hello Kitty as well as exclusive super-sized red bow Jibbitz.
Crocs
Hello Kitty Siren Clogs
If you prefer a closed-to option, these Siren Clogs feature a platform heel design with a glittery sole and blue-and-white Hello Kitty graphics. As a bonus, you’ll also receive a 3D charm of the character as well as a red bow for each shoe.
Looking for more Hello Kitty 50th anniversary collabs? Brands such as Uniqlo and Igloo have also released collections in celebration of the milestone anniversary, which you can shop now and expand your collection.
For more product recommendations, check out our roundups of the best shoes for travel, men’s sneaker deals and Doc Marten dupes.
Selena Gomez is casting a time-turning spell with her latest TV venture. On Thursday (Jan. 18), it was officially announced that the 31-year-old singer-actress is stepping back into her iconic role as Alex Russo in the pilot episode of a Wizards of Waverly Place reboot, a nostalgic project she’ll also produce alongside former costar David […]
In 2023, a number of rock icons decided to talk about transgender kids and why they disapproved of giving them access to best-practice healthcare to help with their transition. In 2024, Green Day frontman Billie Joe Armstrong would like to break that trend.
In a new interview with The Los Angeles Times, the 51-year-old singer called out the conservative-led moral panic surrounding trans kids having access to gender-affirming care, criticizing those who would stand in the way of progress. “I just think they’re f–king close-minded,” he told the publication. “It’s like people are afraid of their children. Why would you be afraid? Why don’t you let your kid just be the kid that they are?”
Armstrong elaborated elsewhere, saying that seeing kids get to celebrate their identities earlier in life is a net positive, especially considering that his generation didn’t have that same luxury. “Nowadays it’s more common for kids to be LGBTQ, and there’s more support,” he said. “But for us, back in the day, that was like the beginning of when people were able to openly say things like that.”
When speaking about the band’s forthcoming song “Bobby Sox” (in which he nods to his own bisexuality by singing both “Do you wanna be my boyfriend?” and “Do you wanna be my girlfriend?”), Armstrong said it felt “liberating” to be in a place where he could sing about his sexuality. “It became more of a queer singalong.”
While 2023 was a record-breaking year for anti-LGBTQ legislation in the U.S., 2024 is already on track to break that record yet again. As of press time, the ACLU is already tracking more than 200 anti-LGBTQ bills in the 2024 legislative session, with 71 of those such bills aimed focused on “healthcare restrictions.”
Green Day, meanwhile, is gearing up for the release of the 14th studio album Saviors on Friday (Jan. 19). In its interview, the band said that the new album centers more plainly on America’s current political strife ahead of the 2024 election, returning to the socially conscious themes of some of their past albums such as American Idiot and Revolution Radio.
“We purposely stayed away from politics [on 2020’s Father of All…] just because everything was such an easy target,” Armstrong said. “We didn’t want to be like this CNN band. And I think in the back of our minds, we knew that MAGA and the divisiveness was gonna be there four years later anyway.”
All products and services featured are independently chosen by editors. However, Billboard may receive a commission on orders placed through its retail links, and the retailer may receive certain auditable data for accounting purposes. SKIMS has asked Lana Del Rey to be its Valentine this year as the face of the lingerie brand’s popular Valentine’s […]
Ice-T may have risen to fame in the ’90s as a rapper and fronting the band Body Count, who courted controversy with their song “Cop Killer,” but these days he’s a cop himself — at least on TV. He’s Sgt. Odafin “Fin” Tutuola on NBC’s long-running police procedural Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, which kicks off its milestone 25th season on Thursday, Jan. 18, and it’s the rapper-actor’s 24th season on the Emmy-winning crime drama.
Over the show’s many seasons, it has featured countless entertainers as guest stars before they made it big (Stephen Colbert, Bradley Cooper, Adam Driver and Hayden Panettiere, for example), as well as household names (Carol Burnett, Robin Williams, Angela Lansbury and John Stamos, to name a few). But SVU has also given everything from blink-and-you’ll-miss-it guest spots to pivotal roles to musicians besides Ice, who has become a beloved staple alongside Mariska Hargitay’s Captain Olivia Benson (who one of Taylor Swift’s cats is named after).
Among them? Miranda Lambert, Heavy D, Sabrina Carpenter, Dave Navarro, Questlove (who played a dead body!) and many more.
“The one thing about [creator] Dick Wolf [and production company Wolf Entertainment] is they understand how musicians translate into acting — they have no fear of that,” Ice tells Billboard. “I think Dick Wolf’s theory is, ‘If you could be a star at something, you could be a star at anything.’”
“My whole career doing music and being on SVU, I’ve never had Dick Wolf or any people then try to talk to me about music or anything, like, ‘Oh, Ice-T did ‘Cop Killer” or this that or the other,” adds the actor-musician. “I think from the Wolf perspective, ‘The bigger the star Ice-T is elsewhere, the bigger the star I have on my show.’ So when I go win a Grammy, it’s like SVU now has a Grammy Award-wining actor. He understands power is power.”
As for his run on the procedural, Ice — who’s up for a 2024 People’s Choice Award for drama TV star of the year — tells Billboard it’s not just his acting abilities that keep Fin on the drama. “[Wolf] sits back, he watches not only a performance but what are you bringing — kind of like what I always say is he looks at a show and goes, ‘If anybody’s tuning in to see Ice-T, yes, he stays on the show.’ If you’re on the show and they don’t think they’re tuning into see you, you can get one in the back of the head in the parking lot, you know?” the Grammy winner says. “For some reason, he likes me. I think I’ve done more television with Dick Wolf than anybody in his camp. I’m on five shows; I’ve been on seven, counting crossovers.” (The Law & Order franchise has boasted a total of seven different shows to date.)
As for how much longer Ice can see himself playing Fin, the answer is a long time. “Yeah, I’ll stay on it. I have nothing better to do,” he shares. “Like I said, right now, it’s an easy gig for me. I’m still able to do Body Count, my music, I gig on the weekends; I got a daughter in school — it’s much easier. When you’re touring, you have to do 200 days a year on the road. … I said when Law & Order ends — whenever it does end — I’ll just go out and read for all Samuel L. Jackson’s parts!”
But until then, he’s happy to keep carrying Fin’s shield, and having musicians guest star on SVU alongside him. “I just love it when they bring hip-hop artists on,” Ice tells Billboard. “It’s one of those shows where if you got a fanbase and you throw your name in the hat, they might call you.”
While Ice isn’t sure which musician he’d like to see on the police procedural next, there are a few who have stood out in his mind as some of the most notable guest roles. Read on to see which five musicians are Ice-T’s favorite cameos on Law & Order: SVU.
Law & Order: Special Victims Unit airs on NBC on Thursdays. Catch up on past seasons — as well as other shows in the Law & Order franchise — on Peacock.
Big Boi
Image Credit: Will Hart/NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal via Getty Images
Walk this way for the kings from Queens! The trailer for Peacock’s three-part docuseries Kings From Queens: The Run DMC Story about the influential hip-hop trio of Joseph Simmons (aka Rev Run), Darryl McDaniels (DMC) and Jason Mizell (Jam Master Jay) has arrived, and Billboard has the first look.
In the teaser for the documentary — which reflects on Run DMC beginnings in the ’80s in New York City’s Queens, the group’s successes, struggles and more — hip-hop heavyweights discuss the impact the iconic act has had on the musical landscape.
“They’re the reason that hip-hop is as big as it is right now,” Ice Cube explains in the trailer of Run DMC, who was the first rap group on MTV.
“They changed the sound of music, the audience for rap music,” Mike D of the Beastie Boy asserts.
And as Run DMC’s Billboard Hot 100 hit “It’s Tricky” — which peaked at No. 57 in April 1987 — plays, rapper-actor Ice-T notes, “That was the moment I knew hip-hop was going to be huge — they brought more people to the genre.”
Other exclusive interviews featured in the Peacock docuseries include LL Cool J, Chuck D, Rage Against the Machine’s Tom Morello, Questlove, Jermaine Dupri and more. Kings From Queens, Billboard can also exclusively report, will premiere Thursday, Feb. 1, exclusively on Peacock. The series is also executive produced by Rev. Run and DMC. (Jam Master Jay was fatally shot at his Queens, NYC, studio in October 2002.)
“I am very happy that the world is going to see our great story,” Rev. Run said in a statement. “So thankful for all that participated in helping us over the years. I started out as a young DJ Run and ended up impacting the world with my group RUN DMC. I am blessed to have been on this amazing journey.”
DMC also shared his thoughts on the purpose of the project. “This documentary series will reach, teach and educate people on the RUN DMC dynamic,” he said in a statement. “I know people will see themselves in our journey and I am hopefully that the next 50 years of hip-hop will be a movement of positive improvement and creativity, in the same way we changed music and the world.”
Over the course of the group’s career, Run DMC had three albums that reached the Billboard 200‘s top 10: Raising Hell (No. 3, 1986; the album also earned a Grammy nod for best R&B performance by a duo or group with vocal), Tougher Than Leather (No. 9, 1988) and Down With the King (No. 7, 1993). Over on the Hot 100, the trio placed five songs, including the hit cross-genre cover/collab of Aerosmith’s “Walk This Way” (No. 4) and “You Be Illin’” (No. 29).
Watch Billboard‘s premiere of the Kings From Queens: The Run DMC Story trailer below:
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If you missed last year’s big screen re-release of the Talking Heads‘ landmark 1984 concert film Stop Making Sense you’re in luck. The movie will be back in select theaters in the U.S., Canada and U.K. starting Jan. 27 after its well-received 2023 4K re-release. The latest reboot is thanks to independent film company A24 […]
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Start 2024 with a bang, thanks to Samsung‘s newest flagship smartphones for the year. Enter the Samsung Galaxy S24, the tech company’s best and brightest mobile device.
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Starting at $799.99, the Samsung Galaxy S24 models are available for pre-order at Samsung, Amazon, Best Buy and Walmart with release on Jan. 31. There are unlocked models ready for pre-order, as well as models paired with mobile carriers, like T-Mobile, Verizon, AT&T or US Cellular.
For 2024, the Samsung Galaxy Series smartphone comes with three varieties: S24, S24+ and S24 Ultra with storage sizes between 128GB and 1TB — depending on which model you pick.
In addition, there are a few interesting deals, if you pre-order now through samsung.com. You can get a free storage upgrade to the next tier of storage up to 1TB, or you can get up to $100 in Samsung Credit with pre-order. The South Korean tech company is even offering 20% off Samsung Care+ that comes with repairs, replacement and expert support, as well as protects against theft and loss. Learn more about Samsung Galaxy S24 deals and offers here.
In the meantime, scroll down to learn more about the Samsung Galaxy S24 and how to reserve and pre-order yours, below:
Samsung
Available on Jan. 31
Samsung Galaxy S24
With a 6.2-inch Dynamic LTPO AMOLED 2X display, the Samsung Galaxy S24 is the entry-level model. But don’t let that fool you. It’s super fast with the Qualcomm SM8650-AB Snapdragon 8 (Gen 3) chip inside, while it comes with 8GB of RAM paired with up to 256GB of on-board storage. As for its camera, it comes with a triple-camera system with a 50-megapixel wide shooter, a 10-megapixel telephoto with a 12-megapixel ultrawide for sharper and crisper photos. It can even record video in glorious 4K at up to 60FPS (frames per second).The Samsung Galaxy S24 starts at $799.99 and comes in seven colors, such as Sapphire Blue (pictured above), Onyx Black, Marble Gray and more.
Samsung
Available on Jan. 31
Samsung Galaxy S24+
Want something bigger? The Samsung Galaxy S24+ features nearly the same phone and camera specs as the S24, but it has a larger 6.7-inch Dynamic LTPO AMOLED 2X display. It also has a longer battery life since it’s a larger mobile device.The S24+ comes in seven colors: Jade Green (pictured above), Sandstone Orange, Cobalt Violet and more. It starts at $999.99.
Samsung
Available on Jan. 31
Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra
Step up to ultra model with the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra, which starts at $1299.99. It features a 6.8-inch Dynamic LTPO AMOLED 2X display, a Qualcomm SM8650-AC Snapdragon 8 (Gen 3) chipset and a titanium frame design (a first ever for Samsung). The smartphone also has a quad-camera system on its rear — a 200-megapixel wide, a 50-megapixel periscope telephoto, a 10-megapixel telephoto and 12-megapixel ultrawide — for ultra pro-level photos and video.The Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra even comes with the Samsung S-Pen stylus and comes in seven colors, including Titanium Yellow (pictured above), Titanium Black, Titanium Gray, Titanium Orange and more.
Meanwhile, each model runs the latest Android 14 and comes with Samsung Galaxy AI features, such as Circle to Search with Google advanced image search, Live Translate real-time call and text translations, AI Photo Editing to tweak and edit photos to look their best and much more.
Samsung Galaxy S24 models are available for pre-order now at Samsung, Amazon, Best Buy and Walmart with release on Jan. 31. Prices start at $799.99 with activation from T-Mobile, Verizon, AT&T or US Cellular.
Want more? For more product recommendations, check out our roundups of the best gaming chairs, best over-ear headphones, wifi extenders, laptop deals and more.
All products and services featured are independently chosen by editors. However, Billboard may receive a commission on orders placed through its retail links, and the retailer may receive certain auditable data for accounting purposes.
Director Blitz Bazawule’s adaptation of The Color Purple takes inspiration from the Broadway musical, which was further adapted from the popular book by Alice Walker — and it’s now available to watch online at home.
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Buzz for the movie has increased now that awards season is in full swing. The movie most recently snagged wins at the 2024 African-American Film Critics Association Awards, including best musical, best ensemble and best music. It’s also a potential Oscar contender (nominations will be announced Jan. 23), which means its winning streak could keep rolling.
The film is currently still in theaters, but if you’d rather stay inside this weekend, then starting Tuesday (Jan. 16), the new version of The Color Purple will be available to rent for $19.99 or buy for $24.99 on Prime Video and Apple TV.
If you’re new to The Color Purple story, the film follows Celie (Fantasia Barrino, Phylicia Pearl Mpasi), a young woman who faces hardships throughout her life, including being torn apart from her sister, a teenage pregnancy and an abusive husband. It’s through the support of sultry jazz singer Shug (Taraji P. Henson) and her stepdaughter Sofia (Danielle Brooks) that she discovers a newfound sisterhood and the strength to survive.
Keep reading to learn the streaming options available.
How to Watch The Color Purple (2023)
The Color Purple has yet to get a streaming platform premiere date, but you can rent or buy the movie on digital through Amazon and Apple TV. You don’t need a Prime membership in order to gain access to the movie. Anyone can purchase or rent the film through Amazon. After you make your selection, the movie will automatically be added to your video library with rentals available for 48 hours.
For those who prefer Apple TV, you don’t need Apple TV+ in order to stream the movie at home. Just make sure you have the app and you can purchase or rent the movie to watch on your smart device and/or TV.
How to Watch The Color Purple (1985)
Want to watch the original version? The first Color Purple movie can be streamed for free through Max. If you’re already a subscriber, just log into your account and you can find it within the movie library.
Don’t have Max? The streaming platform doesn’t offer a free trial, but it does have budget-friendly plans starting at $9.99/month for the ad-supported plan. You can go ad-free for $15.99/month or go Ultimate Ad-Free and get 4K definition as well as everything in the ad-free plan for just $19.99/month. Click here or the button below to start your subscription.
Looking for more savings? Prime members can add Max as a premium channel for $9.99/month and gain access to the entire Max library of content including exclusive and original TV shows and movies like Barbie, Succession, The Rise of the House of Dragon, Game of Thrones, The Gilded Age, Natalia Speaks, True Detective Night Country and more.
Check below to watch the trailer for The Color Purple (2023).
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