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Drake appears to be working on his next era, though he’s taken to social media to warn that it might not be for everyone.
The Canadian musician shared a post on Instagram on Monday (March 10), with its cryptic content swiftly generating much speculation as to what it might be referring to. “U know I grew up non confrontational and always treated this game as a sport where my pen won gold, but my these days the podium has been hard for all of us to ignore,” the post began.
Presumably, this could be in reference to the OVO rapper’s high-profile beef with Kendrick Lamar, which recently saw Lamar performing the incendiary “Not Like Us” at the Super Bowl LIX Halftime Show, only days after it won record and song of the year, best rap performance and song, and best music video at the Grammys.
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Drake had previously promised another round in their ongoing feud was on the horizon, with Lamar later addressing the 6 God’s claim while announcing his halftime performance. “You know there’s only one opportunity to win a championship,” Lamar said. “No round twos.”
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As Drake continues his post though, he hints that whatever comes next may be uncomfortable for some, adding that an unidentified individual has been sending him texts. “I understand that this next chapter may leave you feeling uneasy, but I hope you see my honesty as clarity not charity that answers some questions especially about the unanswered texts you’ve been sending me,” the post concludes.
The cryptic nature of Drake’s latest message is continued in the choice of photos used in the post, which – alongside selfies, live footage, and a screengrab from the 2017 film Phantom Thread – also includes an image of two Zofran pills, which the Mayo Clinic notes are “to prevent nausea and vomiting that is caused by cancer medicines (chemotherapy) or radiation therapy.”
Specifics relating to Drake’s upcoming plans remain unclear currently, but his update follows the release of his $ome $exy $ongs 4 U collaborative album with PartyNextDoor on Feb. 14, and the postponement of a number of Australian and New Zealand tour dates due to a “scheduling conflict.”
Kendrick Lamar’s GNX returns to No. 1 on the Billboard 200 for a third nonconsecutive week on top. The set climbs 3-1 (on the March 15-dated chart) with 90,500 equivalent album units earned in the U.S. in the week ending March 6 (down 15%), according to Luminate. GNX debuted atop the chart dated Dec. 7, 2024, and returned to the top on the Feb. 22-dated chart in the wake of its physical release and Lamar’s Super Bowl LIX halftime show (Feb. 9).
Meanwhile, the lone debut in the top 10 is LISA, whose first full-length studio album, Alter Ego, enters at No. 7. She becomes the second member of the chart-topping group BLACKPINK to notch a solo top 10 effort, following ROSÉ.
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The Billboard 200 chart ranks the most popular albums of the week in the U.S. based on multi-metric consumption as measured in equivalent album units, compiled by Luminate. Units comprise album sales, track equivalent albums (TEA) and streaming equivalent albums (SEA). Each unit equals one album sale, or 10 individual tracks sold from an album, or 3,750 ad-supported or 1,250 paid/subscription on-demand official audio and video streams generated by songs from an album. The new March 15, 2025-dated chart will be posted in full on Billboard‘s website on March 11. For all chart news, follow @billboard and @billboardcharts on both X, formerly known as Twitter, and Instagram.
Of GNX’s 90,500 equivalent album units earned in the latest tracking week, SEA units comprise 73,000 (down 15%, equaling 103.14 million on-demand official streams; it holds at No. 3 on Top Streaming Albums), album sales comprise 16,500 (down 13%; it’s a non-mover at No. 2 on Top Album Sales) and TEA units comprise 1,000 (down 18%).
PARTYNEXTDOOR and Drake’s chart-topping $ome $exy $ongs 4 U holds at No. 2 on the Billboard 200 with 90,000 equivalent album units earned (down 24%; while it holds at No. 1 on Top Streaming Albums for a third week).
Tate McRae’s So Close To What falls to No. 3 with 87,000 equialent album units (down 51%) after debuting atop the chart a week ago.
Nos. 4-6 on the latest Billboard 200 are all former chart-toppers, and non-movers, as SZA’s SOS is No. 4 (74,000 equivalent album units; down 10%), Sabrina Carpenter’s Short n’ Sweet is No. 5 (64,000; down 16%) and Bad Bunny’s Debí Tirar Más Fotos is No. 6 (56,000; down 11%).
LISA has the top debut of the week as her first full-length studio effort, Alter Ego, enters at No. 7 with 45,500 equivalent album units earned. Of that sum, album sales comprise 28,000 (it debuts at No. 1 on Top Album Sales), SEA units comprise 16,500 (equaling 23.12 million on-demand official streams of the set’s songs; it debuts at No. 31 on Top Streaming Albums) and TEA units comprise 1,000.
During the album’s release week, LISA performed on the Academy Awards (March 2), taking part in a tribute to the music of the James Bond film series, where she performed Wings’ “Live and Let Die.” She recently made her acting debut in the third season of HBO’s The White Lotus (which premiered on Feb. 16).
Alter Ego was preceded by a trio of charting songs from the album on the Billboard Hot 100 chart: “Rockstar” (No. 70 peak in July 2024), “New Woman” (featuring Rosalía; No. 97 in August) and “Born Again” (featuring Doja Cat and RAYE; No. 68 in February).
Alter Ego was issued as a standard 12-song album (on streamers, and to purchase as a digital download, CD and vinyl), a 15-song set (with three bonus tracks, on streamers and as digital download) and a 19-track set (with three additional remixes and a voice note from the artist, sold as a digital download exclusively on LISA’s official webstore). The set was issued across nine CD variants (including a signed edition; with all containing collectible paper ephemera such as randomized photocards), six deluxe CD boxed sets (each containing a copy of the album on CD and a branded piece of clothing) and two vinyl variants (including one signed edition).
LISA is a member of the Billboard 200-topping quartet BLACKPINK, who saw its last album, BORN PINK, debut atop the chart dated Oct. 1, 2022, after the act’s The Album became its first top 10 (No. 2, 2020). LISA is the second member of the group to notch a top 10-charting solo effort on the Billboard 200, following ROSÉ, whose rosie debuted and peaked at No. 3 on the Dec. 21, 2024-dated chart.
Rounding out the rest of the top 10 on the latest Billboard 200: Chappell Roan’s The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess is a non-mover at No. 8 (43,000 equivalent album units earned; down 8%), Morgan Wallen’s chart-topping One Thing at a Time is steady at No. 9 (42,000; up 2%) and The Weeknd’s former leader Hurry Up Tomorrow falls 7-10 (40,000; down 19%).
Luminate, the independent data provider to the Billboard charts, completes a thorough review of all data submissions used in compiling the weekly chart rankings. Luminate reviews and authenticates data. In partnership with Billboard, data deemed suspicious or unverifiable is removed, using established criteria, before final chart calculations are made and published.
50 Cent is speaking out after false rumors ran rampant on social media of him being the victim of an alleged Hollywood shooting, which he deemed to be “fake news.” Explore Explore See latest videos, charts and news See latest videos, charts and news “Don’t worry I’m gonna make it, because this is fake news,” […]
Billboard Women In Music for 2025 keeps on getting juicer. Doechii is named as the Woman of the Year, and so many more have been added to the powerhouse night. Keep watching to find out who! Watch the live event on March 29th at 10PM ET/7PM PT on the Billboard Women in Music 2025 channel […]
Freekey Zekey is back to his hilarious storytelling ways.
This time he’s talking to The Art of Dialogue about one of the many situations that lead to The Diplomats wearing out their welcome over at Roc-A-Fella Records back in the early 2000s. Zekey alleges that he, Jim Jones, and an associate got into an argument with label executive Lenny S. over studio time.
“What really separated us was when the tensions was high — it was me, Jim and Snagz,” he began. “We called Lenny S. saying we needed studio time and Lenny was like, ‘Bet, come on.’ So, we went up there — I think it was a Sunday — we up to the studio, we called Lenny S. like, ‘What’s going on? You said you was gonna give us studio time.’ Lenny S. was like, ‘Kiss my ass, n—a, it’s Sunday. What you talkin’ about?’” Taken aback by the news, Zeke then starts to laugh like a maniacal cartoon villain and replies back, “Really?”
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He then explains how the next day they planned on confronting Lenny at the label office and rushed down an elevator when they figured out where he was before Dame Dash tried to get Jim and Lenny to shoot a fair to settle things and move on. “Next day, we up in Roc-A-Fella like, ‘Where the f—k this n—a at?’ We couldn’t find him,” he said. “So, I got on the elevator and then I got pushed in the elevator by my man Snagz and Jim, and they pressing the button like, ‘Hurry up, let’s go downstairs!’ I don’t know what happened, but I’m pretty sure somebody got slapped or something physical happened to Lenny S.”
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Adding, “We get downstairs and Jim shoots out the gate, Jim’s runnin’, Snagz gets outta there, I’m a little fatter so I’m running slow. Dame pulls up: ‘What the f—k’s going on, man?!’ I think he brought Lenny S. down, he got Jim and Snagz there, and he was like, ‘We gonna fight ’cause none of this stupid sh—t is gonna go on. If there’s a problem, let’s fight it out.’ And before that happened, a Jeep or a truck pull up and I don’t if it was [Memphis] Bleek’s brother, but it was his family.”
He continued by speculating that the drama surrounding that day was the beginning of the end. “That’s when we found something hard enough to start to break the diamond,” Zekey recalled. “Because it was like, ‘Hold on, this is Bleek’s people with Lenny S. and y’all n—as gonna ride?’ That’s where the divide came from. It was supposed to be just a Lenny S. and Jim Jones fight, but I guess Lenny S. called somebody from Bleek’s family. So, now it was like, ‘Word?’ And that’s what caused the tension right there. Nobody got it on that day; everybody ended up separating, but the people that we saw let us know like, ‘Oh, now it’s up,’ and there’s where I think the full turmoil came.”
Cam’ron and The Diplomats ultimately released four official projects under the Roc-A-Fella banner before going their separate ways around 2004.
You can watch the clip below.
Ice Spice and Chappell Roan linked up at the Vivienne Westwood show during Paris Fashion Week, but that wasn’t the only similar experience they endured in France. Roan slipped her bare behind into her PFW recap post to Instagram on Sunday (March 9), which included the ripped red Ludovic de Saint Sernin dress exposing her […]
DDG has aired out the visitation issues he’s apparently experiencing with Halle Bailey over their son, Halo, which he discussed in a new song titled “Don’t Take My Son.” The rapper released the Cash Cobain-produced track on Saturday (March 8), when he addressed the alleged problems surrounding the custody of his one-year-old son. “Don’t take […]
No matter how large or small the venue, you never know who will show up to a concert in Music City.
On Sunday evening (March 9), rapper Snoop Dogg made a surprise appearance at Nashville music venue Losers Bar & Grill. The 16-time Grammy-nominated entertainer treated the audience in the 500-capacity venue to a rendition of his 1994-released song “Gin and Juice.”
Country singer-songwriter Ernest was among those who joined Snoop during the evening, and shared photos from the performance over the weekend. The two entertainers have previously collaborated on an as-yet-unreleased song called “Gettin’ Done,” which Ernest performed during a show in Nashville last month.
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“SNOOP X DEVILLE,” the country artist captioned his carousel of photos with the rapper.
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The venue also shared a clip of Snoop’s performance on Instagram, captioning the video on Monday (March 10): “You never know who might hop up on stage. This Life Ain’t For Everybody! @snoopdogg #LosersWin”
This is just Snoop Dogg’s most recent appearance in Nashville. In November, he joined Jelly Roll on stage during the “Son of a Sinner” singer’s headlining show at Bridgestone Arena, where the two traded verses on “Drop It Like It’s Hot” and collaborated on a song inspired by Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers’ “Mary Jane’s Last Dance.”
During his career, Snoop Dogg earned three Billboard Hot 100 chart-toppers, including 2004’s “Drop It Like It’s Hot” with Pharrell, as well as a feature on the 2006 Akon hit “I Wanna Love You” and the 2010 Katy Perry hit “California Gurls.” Snoop Dogg (initially known as Snoop Doggy Dogg) first gained prominence through his collaborations with Dr. Dre, including “Deep Cover” and his contributions to Dr. Dre’s groundbreaking 1992 album, The Chronic. Snoop made his solo studio debut on his 1993 album Doggystyle, which set the stage for further hit albums, including The Doggfather. Along the way, he notched numerous hits including “What’s My Name?,” “Gin and Juice” and “Still a G Thang,” and later teaming with Pharrell for songs including “Beautiful” (with Charlie Wilson) and “Drop It Like It’s Hot.”
Ernest, a longtime friend of Jelly Roll, is known for his work writing hits including the “Save Me” singer’s “Son of a Sinner,” the Morgan Wallen/Post Malone hit “I Had Some Help” and Wallen’s “You Proof,” “Wasted on You” and “More Than My Hometown,” among others. Ernest earned a No. 1 Billboard Country Airplay hit with the collaboration “Cowgirls” (with Wallen).
The sun is sticking around a bit longer, the temperatures are rising bit by bit — it looks like spring really is on the way! It’s been a relatively quiet March so far after a particularly jam-packed February, but if anyone is keeping up that momentum, it’s Doechii.
On Monday (March 10), Billboard named the Grammy-winning Tampa MC its 2025 Woman of the Year, making her the first female rapper to earn the honor since Cardi B in 2020. Over the weekend (March 8) — after getting stamps of approval from fashion giants Anna Wintour and Thom Browne during Paris Fashion Week — Doechii collected an incomparable co-sign. Ms. Lauryn Hill brought the “Denial Is A River” rapper to the stage for a joint performance of her 1998 Billboard Hot 100 No. 1 hit, “Doo Wop (That Thing)” during her her headlining set at the Jazz in the Gardens Festival.
With Fresh Picks, Billboard aims to highlight some of the best and most interesting new sounds across R&B and hip-hop — from Madison McFerrin’s house-soul banger to GELO’s GloRilla-assisted “Tweaker” follow-up. Be sure to check out this week’s Fresh Picks in our Spotify playlist below.
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Freshest Find: Madison McFerrin, “Ain’t It Nice”
SanFran multihyphenate and daughter of jazz legend Bobby McFerrin, Madison McFerrin is ready to begin a new era. “Ain’t It Nice,” a sleek house-infused soul track that explores the allure of new infatuation across a swirling mixture of groovy drum loops and twinkling synths, finds McFerrin flaunting her intimate understanding of vocal dynamics and pacing. Instead of immediately firing off the chesty belts that house often evokes, McFerrin opts for soft coos and lush background harmonies — like the ones in the bridge — that eventually help her sneak into the rafters of her range by the song’s close. — KYLE DENIS
GELO & GloRilla, “Can You Please”
GELO recruited his “Memphis twin” GloRilla for his “Tweaker” follow-up with “Can You Please,” who continues to shred every track she lends a guest verse to. The middle Ball brother is now 2/2 with a meteoric start to his rap career. “Tweaker” set the bar high with his top 40 debut hit and GELO continues his 2000s New Orleans rap pastiche run. It remains to be seen if “Can You Please” will match the virality that “Tweaker” hand to earn GELO the first rap hit of 2025. Next up, he’ll be taking his talents to the festival stage with his Rolling Loud performance debut in California next weekend. — MICHAEL SAPONARA
Aaron Page, “Pretty Girls Like R&B”
Houston-based R&B singer Aaron Page channels smooth nostalgia and modern romance on his latest track, “Pretty Girls Like R&B.” The song thrives on a mix of passion, devotion, and material flexing, with Page weaving through memories of late-night connections and heartfelt gestures. “Wanna vibe with you like Jodeci love,” he croons, setting the tone with a nod to the ‘90s R&B icons known for their raw, sensual love songs.
Beyond the allure of attraction, Page reflects on moments of intimacy like holding her hair when she was sick and proving his loyalty through lavish gestures (“Brought the Maybach out to Kamp for you”). His reference to Drake’s Take Care signals an openness to emotional depth, evoking the vulnerability that made Drizzy’s 2011 album a staple for lovers and heartbreakers alike. “Pretty Girls Like R&B” taps into the kind of love story that resonates with those who cherish both old-school romance and modern-day ambition. — CHRISTOPHER CLAXTON
Curren$y & Harry Fraud feat. Wiz Khalifa, “Airport Industries”
What year is it? Did we wake up and go back in time to the Blog Era? While Curren$y has stayed consistent when it comes to dropping music and posting miniature diecast car content on his hobby page, Wiz has been on a freestyle run of the likes we haven’t seen in a while. This generation’s rap Cheech & Chong link up with one of the game’s most potent horticulturalists in Harry Fraud for a smokey number that sounds better when it’s a sunny day and you have one lit and one rolled already. — ANGEL DIAZ
Icewear Vezzo feat. Big Sean & Skilla Baby, “Worth Something”
Undefeated, Icewear Vezzo’s latest EP — which dropped last Friday (March 7) — is another thrilling collection of Detroit-set street tales. On “Worth Something,” he recruits Big Sean and Skilla Baby, two of his city’s biggest rap stars, for some A1 trap storytelling. “In the Nap with Milly ‘nem, just popped a Tesla, now I’m geeked/ Turned a dream into reality, that’s why I’m laughin’ in my sleep/ Cooked the Vezzo in the lab and now my hands, it smell like bleach/ Rather go to trial than cop no plea, we just cop bags and Louis V,” he spits in his opening verse, opting for a reflective tone that pairs well with Hawkey’s skittering snares. — K.D.
Turbo & Gunna, “Classy Girl”
Turbo and Gunna have been one of the best rapper-producer duos in hip-hop, and it’s been that way for some time now. They reunited on an anthem for the ladies just in time for International Women’s Day with “Classy Girl.” Gunna’s life of luxury allows him to bless the women in life with opulent experiences that most can only dream of. “Pеnthouse suite, we been livin’ on the road/ I’m in Bottega matchin’ slippers to your robe/ And I been runnin’ through a bankroll,” he raps over the bouncy production. It’s almost time for another project from the pairing. — M.S.
Dylan Sinclair, “Lemon Trees” (Motherland Sessions)”
Toronto’s own Dylan Sinclair brings a new depth to his For the Boy in Me album with Motherland Sessions, a live EP paying tribute to his Filipino heritage. Stripping back the production, Sinclair leans into a more intimate, organic sound — especially on “Lemon Trees,” a soulful reflection on love, ambition, and timing. Sinclair’s smooth vocals glide over the laid-back beat as he wrestles with the push and pull of commitment. “I’ll hold you down,” he promises in the chorus, offering devotion while grappling with his own hesitations. He paints his love interest as his “queen” and the “girl of my dreams” and contrasts that adoration with the realities of personal ambition and the fear of settling down too soon; Sinclair lets the tension linger, never forcing an easy resolution. “Lemon Trees” is a tender, honest take on romance. — C.C.
Skepta & PlaqueBoyMax, “Less Is More”
Streamer PlaqueBoyMax’s series “In the Booth With” is one of the more unique online series, helping bring fans into the recording booth with their favorite rappers. Max had U.K. rap legend Sketpa come through recently to lay down a track, and of course, it’s a banger. Big Smoke lays some game down to start off his verse, rapping, “London City is dark and cold/ Don’t take picks with the members screaming that gang if you aren’t involved/Wanna be a ‘G’ better be fully active, gotta do the road with your heart and soul/They wanna know if the street life worth, I told them the answer’s no,” as PlaqueBoyMax delivers a smooth sample flip of the Judy Bailey Quartet’s “Colours Of My Dreams.” — A.D.
Larrenwong, “Out the Frame”
Former NFL player Warren Long has been operating as rising R&B star Larrenwong for some time now, and his new 4th & Long EP is another winning entry in his growing catalog. Standout cut “Out the Frame” finds him moving from the field to the bedroom, crooning “I know that it’s been fun and games/ But you better hold tightly/ Because I go crazy when I’m inside.” At one point, he even nods to Usher, spelling out his name just like the Grammy-winner did on 1997’s “Nice & Slow.” — K.D.
Dende, “Need U Like”
Fresh off signing with Def Jam, rising R&B talent Dende keeps the momentum going with his latest single, “Need U Like.” Through vivid metaphors, Dende paints a picture of unwavering devotion, comparing his connection to his partner to classic, inseparable duos. The verses push that passion even further, with bold declarations of loyalty — he’d spend his last dollar, defy the impossible and rewrite history just to prove his love. Yet, underneath the grand gestures, there’s an emotional core: a promise to heal the wounds of past heartbreak and ensure his partner never feels unappreciated again. With its smooth production and raw lyricism, “Need U Like” is Dende at his best — vulnerable, confident, and completely lost in love. — C.C.
Lady London, “Is You Krazy?”
Walk around the streets of NYC for an hour, and you’re likely to hear one version of someone yelling, “Is you crazy?” Lady London is back with her first single of 2025, and she’s disgusted with the nerve and audacity of these men from around the way. “Cop me the Rollie, cop me the Wraith, and when you see me, you copy and paste,” she raps over Hitmaka’s thumping production. Next up, the Howard University alum is heading out on the road to open for Coco Jones on the North American leg of her Why Not More Tour. — M.S.
03/10/2025
Here’s all the songs we wanna hear from these two superstars.
03/10/2025
