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CRT FRSH, Hip-Hop Wired’s playlist where we showcase music that we believe is “Certified Fresh,” is back again! With our latest update this week, we’ve added some songs you should know and other joints you need to know, so let’s get into it.
The CRT FRSH playlist is a labor of love. We don’t take payments, nor do we do favors. We only add joints to our playlist that fit the theme and vision we’re going for and don’t seek to waste the listener’s time. Further, we don’t stick to one lane of Hip-Hop. We believe that all aspects of the music should get some light, whether it’s young lions in the trenches or those hoping for that one shot to blow up to grizzled veterans puffing out their chests with lots more to say.
I want to explain how I approach curating the CRT FRSH playlist. Most importantly, I don’t segregate my Hip-Hop. Every form of music from the main cultural tree deserves a listen and a look. When I construct the playlist, I want to include all regions across the States and, when applicable, across the globe. I also want to entertain every fan of Hip-Hop, not just those who enjoy one segment of it. Now that we’ve got that out of the way, let’s get to it. — D.L. Chandler, lead curator for CRT FRSH
Welcome back to CRT FRSH, a collection of songs we feel should be on your radar if they aren’t already. With this week’s update, we did our best to put together a playlist that showcases the wide scope of great Hip-Hop music, although we’re sure to have missed some drops.
We open up the playlist with Mozzy’s “WHO WANT WAR” with a guest feature from Polo G, appearing on the Sacramento rapper’s new INTRUSIVE THOUGHTS album. CRT FRSH favorite Raz Fresco links again with Futurewave for their excellent Stadium Lo Champions album, and the track “Cyanide” is one of our top joints.
“Danger Danger” is a new track from Swizz Beatz from the Godfather of Harlem Season 4 original soundtrack, featuring verses from Jadakiss and Pusha T on the closeout. Mathematics, the longtime DJ and producer with the Wu-Tang Clan, delivered his new album Black Samon, the Bastard Swordsman, and the track “Mandingo” is a classic Wu banger featuring Raekwon, Inspectah Deck, Method Man, and a stong anchor verse from Cappadona.
From The Private Selection of Saba and No ID could very well end up being the album of the year for many, and “30seccchop” featuring Joseph Chilliams and a strong performance from Jane Deaux is just one of the heaters from the project. Ray Vaughn, one of Top Dawg Entertainment’s newest signees, delivered his new mixtape, The Good The Bad The Dollar Menu, and “EAST CHATT” features fellow TDE artist, Isaiah Rashad.
Salute to Young Thug, Future, Jack Harlow, Doja Cat, Half-Empty, Partly Vacant, SALIMATA, Khadijat, Larry June, 2 Chainz, The Alchemist, KenTheMan, Niontay, MAVI, Sideshow, Shoreline Mafia, Boldy James, V Don, Wiz Khalifa, DJ Quik, Domo Genesis, Smoke DZA, Dough Networkz, Graymatter, Coyote, Ab-Soul, Python P, 2 Eleven, Low The Great, MOLIY, Silent Addy, Skillibeng, Shenseea, LaRussell, Busta Rhymes, and Mike G Beatz.
Check out out in two more weeks for our next update. If you wish to be CONSIDERED for inclusion, email D.L. Chandler at: dchandler@bhmdigital.com.
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Photo: Getty
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A good streaming service deal might be tough to come across, but we found very good deep discounts with Sling TV bundles for even more premium channels, movies, TV shows, on-demand titles and music documentaries.
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Right now, you can get Sling Blue or Sling Orange + Blue for half off of your first month of service and add the streaming service Max for $5 off the monthly subscription price. This means Max starts at $4.99 per month, instead of $9.99 per month, when you bundle it with Sling TV.
Max is the home to hit movies and TV shows, as well as original Music Box documentaries, such as Yacht Rock: A DOCKumentary, Woodstock ’99: Peace, Love and Rage, Juice WLRD: Into The Abyss, DMX: Don’t Try to Understand and others.
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Max
‘Yacht Rock: A DOCKumentary’
With Sling + Max
Max
‘Woodstock ’99: Peace, Love and Rage’
With Sling + Max
Max
‘Juice WLRD: Into The Abyss’
With Sling + Max
Max
‘DMX: Don’t Try to Understand’
With Sling + Max
Alternatively, you can get a free month of AMC+ upon sign up for Sling Orange. AMC+ is the home to original programming such as Gangs of London, Interview with the Vampire, Deadstream and more.
How to Watch Sling TV Online
Here’s how Sling TV breaks down: A subscription to Sling TV gets you access to live TV from a wide range of channels, starting at $23 for the first month and $45.99 per month afterwards for the Sling Orange plan.
You can watch sports networks such as ESPN, ESPN2 and MotorTrend, while you can also watch many cable networks, including Disney Channel, AMC, BBC America, BET, CNN, Food Network, HGTV, Lifetime, Fuse, IFC, QVC, TNT, TBS and many others.
Meanwhile, you can go local with the Sling Blue plan for $25.50 for the first month and $50.99 per month afterward. The Sling TV plan comes with an assortment of local and cable channels such as ABC, Fox and NBC, as well as Bravo, Discovery Channel, Fox News, Fox Sports, MSNBC, NFL Network, National Geographic and much more.
In fact, you can combine both plans with Sling Orange + Blue, which goes for $33 for the first month and $65.99 per month after that. The Sling TV plan comes with more than 45 channels for sports, news, entertainment, lifestyle and local.
Please note: Prices and channel availability depends on your local TV market. You can learn more about Sling TV here.
Sling TV is streamable via Apple iPhone, Apple iPad, Apple TV 4K, Android smartphones and tablets, web browsers, Fire TV devices, Roku, Google TV and Google Chromecast, smart TVs, Xbox Series X/S gaming consoles and other devices. Check out a complete list of Sling TV compatible devices here.
Want more? For more product recommendations, check out our roundups of the best Xbox deals, studio headphones and Nintendo Switch accessories.
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. Ready to switch your phone carrier? T-Mobile is helping to make the process a breeze. The cellular service company has revamped […]
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Fans from all around the world can tune in to Phish’s three-night concert series as part of the rock band’s spring tour, slated for Friday (April 25), Saturday (April 26) and Sunday (April 27).
The concert series livestreams from Hollywood Bowl in Los Angeles at 10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT during each evening on Live Phish. Read on for details on how to stream on Live Phish.
How to Watch Phish: Live From the Hollywood Bowl
Live Phish subscribers can livestream Phish Live from the Hollywood Bowl for $14.99 (regularly $29.99) per concert. If you’re not subscribed, you can sign up starting $9.99 per month. However, if you only want to livestream the concert, it’s priced at $29.99 per evening. Alternatively, you can watch all three concerts starting at $77.99 ($25.99 each) for non-subscribers.
Powered by Nugs.net, Live Phish features livestream concerts, a catalog of past shows going all the way back to 2002, exclusive archive footage and bonus interviews, music streaming, discounts and other benefits. Learn more about Live Phish here.
Live Phish
Phish: Live From the Hollywood Bowl
April 25, April 26 and April 27 at 10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT each evening.
Want to attend the Phish concert in person? There are still last-minute tickets available via Vivid Seats (get $20 off purchases of $200 and over with code BB30), StubHub and GameTime (score $20 off ticket orders of $150 and over with code SAVE20). Prices vary depending on the city and seats available.
Moreover, you can get $150 off when you spend $500 with promo code BILLBOARD150, or $300 off when you spend $1,000 with promo code BILLBOARD300 at TicketNetwork.com.
Meanwhile, those who want to watch internationally can access the streaming service with a VPN, such as ExpressVPN or NordVPN.
Taking place on Friday (April 25), Saturday (April 26) and Sunday (April 27), Phish: Live from the Hollywood Bowl livestreams from Los Angeles with a start time of 10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT each evening. You can watch the event live starting at $14.99 each on Live Phish.
Want more? For more product recommendations, check out our roundups of the best Xbox deals, studio headphones and Nintendo Switch accessories.
Quavo has been building his acting résumé over the years, and he’s hoping to get better at it — in fact, he’s hoping to be one of the best. TMZ caught up with the Atlanta rapper and asked if he could eventually become the best rapper-turned-actor ever and was asked if he could be better […]
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While facing a high-profile murder-for-hire case, Lil Durk has found strength in his faith, and he’s helping others do the same.
On April 18, the Chicago rapper’s father, Dontay Banks, shared during an interview that Durk is maintaining a strong spiritual foundation as he prepares for trial later this year. In fact, according to Banks, Durk has guided 13 fellow inmates to convert to Islam during his time behind bars. “Durk’s in a focused space,” Banks said. “He’s been reading, praying, and helping others turn their lives around.”
The 32-year-old rapper, born Durk Derrick Banks, has made it clear that Islam plays a vital role in his life, and he’s recently been more vocal about it through his music. Tracks like “The Voice 2.0” and “Pelle Coat” feature direct references to prayer, faith, and his relationship with Allah, signaling a deeper spiritual transformation.
Durk’s father noted that his son is not only using his platform, but also his personal time to spread positivity and peace, despite the heavy legal challenges he faces. “He’s really stepping into a leadership role,” said Banks. “He’s not just talking about faith, he’s living it.”
As Durk awaits trial, his actions are drawing attention beyond the courtroom. His spiritual influence behind bars highlights a powerful narrative of redemption, leadership, and resilience. Whether or not it impacts his legal outcome, Durk’s dedication to Islam appears to be reshaping his path, and the paths of those around him.
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UFC heads “City of Fountains” for their latest fight night. Two top-tier welterweights are set to match in the octagon as the main event for UFC Fight Night. Ian “The Future” Machado Garry (15-1-0) faces off against Carlos “The Nightmare” Prates (21-6-0) in a match on Saturday (April 26).
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UFC Fight Night: Machado Garry vs. Prates takes place at T-Mobile Center in Kansas City, Missouri, with a start time of 6 p.m. ET/3 p.m. PT. The main card is expected to begin at 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT.
If you want to watch UFC Fight Night: Machado Garry vs. Prates (also known as UFC on ESPN 66) online, the MMA event livestreams on ESPN+ for subscribers only.
ESPN+ is the home to Ultimate Fighting Championship. The streaming service also features other MMA live events from Professional Fighters League and Bellator MMA, so if you’re a fan of mixed-martial arts, then ESPN+ has you covered for the best hand-to-hand action. Meanwhile, ESPN+ has live access to other sports leagues, including NBA, NHL, NFL, F1, NWSL, LaLiga, Bundesliga and much more. Learn more about ESPN+ sports coverage and original programming here.
Not a subscriber? A monthly subscription to ESPN+ goes for $11.99 per month. However, you can go with an ESPN+ annual subscription for $119.99. This saves you 15% compared to the month-to-month subscription price.
While subscribers to ESPN+ can livestream the entire UFC Fight Night: Machado Garry vs. Prates for free, the main card airs on ESPN2, so it’s streamable on Sling TV and Fubo. The cable network is also available with Hulu + Live TV, which comes with Hulu, ESPN+ and Disney+.
Check out the complete UFC Fight Night: Machado Garry vs. Prates fight card below:
Main Card, 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT — ESPN+, ESPN2
Ian Machado Garry vs. Carlos Prates (Welterweight) — Main Event
Anthony Smith vs. Zhang Mingyang (Light Heavyweight)
Giga Chikadze vs. David Onama (Featherweight)
Michel Pereira vs. Abusupiyan Magomedov (Middleweight)
Randy Brown vs. Nicolas Dalby (Welterweight)
Ikram Aliskerov vs. André Muniz (Middleweight)
Prelims Card, 6 p.m. ET/3 p.m. PT — ESPN+
Matt Schnell vs. Jimmy Flick (Flyweight)
Evan Elder vs. Gauge Young (Lightweight)
Chris Gutiérrez vs. John Castañeda (Featherweight)
Da’Mon Blackshear vs. Alateng Heili (Bantamweight)
Malcolm Wellmaker vs. Cameron Saaiman (Bantamweight)
Jaqueline Amorim vs. Polyana Viana (Women’s Strawweight)
Timothy Cuamba vs. Roberto Romero (Featherweight)
Chelsea Chandler vs. Joselyne Edwards (Women’s Bantamweight)
In addition, you can get the Disney Trio — which comes with ESPN+, Hulu and Disney+ — starting at just $16.99 per month for both services in one package.
What Is Machado Garry vs. Prates Walkout Music for UFC Fight Night?
While UFC has yet to announce each fighter’s walkout music for the main event of UFC Fight Night, the fighters usually go out to the octagon to the same songs during their matches. Ian Machado Garry typically walks out to “Layla” by Eric Clapton, while Carlos Prates prefers to walk out to “Purple Lamborghini” by Rick Ross and Skrillex. So these songs will likely make an appearance during the MMA event.
UFC Fight Night: Machado Garry vs. Prates is streaming on ESPN+ on Saturday (April 26), starting at 6 p.m. ET/3 p.m. PT. The main card begins around at 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT on ESPN+.
Want more? For more product recommendations, check out our roundups of the best Xbox deals, studio headphones and Nintendo Switch accessories.
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.
In the heart of Palm Springs, the Coachella Valley Music and Arts festival came and went with a bang, from Lady Gaga‘s extravagant “Mayhem In the Desert” set, to Charli XCX‘s electrifying Brat performance with surprise guests. But this year marks a significant shift for concert culture as the music festival brings in Loop Earplugs as its first official earplug partner.
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The collaboration also delivers a limited-edition Loop x Coachella Experience 2 Earplugs that quickly became a go-to accessory for many in attendance.
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As the growing awareness of hearing health continues to rise, this partnership encourages users to tear up the dance floor without tearing up their eardrums in the process. With 17 decibels(SNR) of filtered noise reduction, the earplugs, which were sold at both Coachella weekends, ensures clear sound while protecting ears.
Adventuring to the Sahara, Yuma, and Sonora stages, which typically offer lineups of electronic dance music, the Loop earplugs shine when blocking out pounding subwoofers, so you can enjoy the music without sacrificing sound quality or risking hearing damage. Conversations may be muffled with them on, but when a Chase & Status set is happening, who’s is trying to talk?
“The Loop experience is actually made to reduce noise, but not distort it, so that you’re protected and also you’re still in the music, in the festival, in the atmosphere,” Loop co-founder Maarten Bodewes tells Billboard. “Loop started as a way for us to keep enjoying live music experiences without the negative side effects. It’s incredibly rewarding to have Coachella join us on that journey, making hearing protection a more natural, welcome and intrinsic part of live music culture.”
Limited-edition
Loop x Coachella Experience 2 Earplugs
The days of carrot stick-esque foam earplugs that fall out in seconds are over. The limited-edition Loop x Coachella Experience 2 Earplugs provide as much design aesthetic as they do functionally. Inspired by the festivals desert location, the earplugs feature a modern gradient design mixing sky blue and sunset orange for a dusk till dawn aesthetic. They come with multiple sized tips so they stay snug in your ear during any activity the day brings, as well as a matching Loop x Coachella Carry Case and an optional Link connector cord. There is a bit of a learning curve to get them to sit properly in your ear, but after some minor adjustments they fell pretty comfortable for long-term uses.
“From a design perspective, we looked at like what is typical about Coachella,” says Bodewes. “It’s in the desert. It goes from dusk till dawn, and if you look at the color of dusk, it’s more the bluish hue, and dusk is more of a orange hue. So we tried to make it from dusk till dawn.”
limited-edition
Loop x Coachella Link
As Coachella kicks off the 2025 festival season, Loop is leading the charge in this new era of specially designed hearing protection and quickly becoming a go-to essential for concert goers. Its sleek design, resembling daith piercings, sets it apart from typical earplugs on the market, and adds a element of stylish fun for vibrant festival looks. With an affordable price point, the Loop x Coachella Experience 2 earplugs are a game-changer for live music.
The Loop x Coachella Experience 2 earplugs ($39.95 USD), as well as the duo’s link connector ($29.95 USD), are now available on Loop’s site here.
Drag Race season four star Jiggly Caliente won’t be returning to her position as a judge on Drag Race Philippines after the drag performer had most of her right leg amputated following an infection. Explore Explore See latest videos, charts and news See latest videos, charts and news In a post to Caliente’s social media, […]
In the new trailer for the third and final season of The Summer I Turned Pretty, Belly and Jeremiah live happily ever after — or do they? Luckily, Taylor Swift has songs for either outcome.
Released Thursday (April 24), the minute-long teaser features two of the pop superstar’s most beloved tracks, starting with Lover album closer “Daylight.” The ethereal ballad plays over an ooey-gooey montage of Lola Tung and Gavin Casalegno’s characters picking up where they left off in season two — as a couple, despite Belly previously dating Jeremiah’s brother, Conrad, who is nowhere to be found for almost all of the trailer.
As the two frolic through their college campus, make out in the library and slow dance at a party, Swift’s voice sings, “I don’t wanna look at anything else now that I saw you/ I don’t wanna think of anything else now that I thought of you/ I’ve been sleeping so long in a 20-year dark night/ And now I see daylight.”
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At the very end, however, #Jelly’s romantic fantasy is interrupted by a certain intruder: Christopher Briney’s Conrad, who shows up at the brothers’ beach house and delivers the only spoken line in the entire trailer.
“Hey,” he says as a shocked Belly opens the front door on him, while “Daylight” abruptly switches to a line from a very different Swift track. “Loving him was red,” interjects the 14-time Grammy winner’s voice on 2012’s Red title track.
The new trailer is far from the first time The Summer I Turned Pretty — which is based on the Jenny Hahn book series of the same name — has featured Swift’s music. In fact, the singer-songwriter has been one of the biggest musical contributors to the show since it premiered in 2022, with “The Way I Loved You,” “Exile” featuring Bon Iver, “Snow on the Beach” with Lana Del Rey, “Sweet Nothing,” “This Love,” “Last Kiss” and several more Swift tracks finding homes in various episodes.
The final season will put an end to the messy love triangle that has fueled the show from the beginning, with the description reading, “It’s the end of her junior year of college, and Belly’s looking forward to another summer in Cousins with her soulmate, Jeremiah … until some core-shaking events bring her first love Conrad back into her life.”
“Now on the brink of adulthood, Belly finds herself at a crossroads and must decide which brother has her heart,” it continues. “Summer will never be the same.”
Season three of The Summer I Turned Pretty arrives on Prime Video July 16. Watch the trailer above.
