genre rb

05 May 2025

Billboard Hot 100 Top 10 Countdown for May 10, 2025 | Billboard News

Doechii hits a new peak in the top 10 with “Anxiety,” Alex Warren continues his rise on the Hot 100 with “Ordinary” and Kendrick and SZA continue their run on the Hot 100 with “Luther.”

Tetris Kelly:
This is the Billboard Hot 100 top 10 for the week dated May 10. Doechii’s “Anxiety” returns to the top 10. “Beautiful Things” hops to nine, while Morgan Wallen falls to eight. “Lose Control” is up again to seven. “Pink Pony Club” is locked at No. 6, as is “A Bar Song (Tipsy)” at five, and “Nokia” at No. 4. “Die With a Smile” is down to three. We see “Ordinary” hit a new No. 2 peak. And with 11 weeks at No. 1 are Kendrick Lamar and SZA with “Luther.”

If you want more Billboard, make sure you hit the subscribe button and ring the bell to be notified on all our latest videos you.

05 May 2025

Grace Wales Bonner Talks ‘Togetherness’ and New York at the Guggenheim

“Interviewing Grace Wales Bonner at the Guggenheim” sounds like a bar you would hear from Westside Gunn, or some other rapper with a high level of fashion sense and sophistication. But that’s what I did over the weekend when I had the pleasure of being invited to the British designer’s latest iteration of her “Togetherness” series where she brings people together from different walks of life that share similar interests when it comes to style, music, and art.

Explore

Explore

See latest videos, charts and news

See latest videos, charts and news

There was an exhibit by multi-disciplined artist Rashid Johnson entitled A Poem for Deep Thinkers serving as the event’s backdrop, as sounds from electro-R&B genius KeiyaA and pop fusion maven Amaarae bounced off Johnson’s pieces — which included things like a framed throwback dashiki jersey (signed by “Civil Rights All-Star” Angela Davis), and sculptures made out of shea butter.

Trending on Billboard

Like most of the acts performing, Grace Wales Bonner is multi-faceted, incorporating different reference points into the clothes and accessories she designs for her Wales Bonner fashion house thanks to an almost maniacal obsession with research that then bleeds out into what she presents to the world. When I was walking to the event from the 86th St. stop, I noticed Nigerian rock band Etran de L’Aïr smoking cigarettes outside as they relaxed before they tore the house down later that night — but the first thing I noticed was that they were wearing brown traditional thobes while wearing yellow Adidas x Wales Bonner Adios Neftenga on their feet.

That’s Wales Bonner’s approach right there in front of me. The label mixes high fashion with traditional and street fashion. Soccer kits, durags and sneakers aren’t strange things to see on the label’s runway models. It’s that juxtaposition that makes the brand so interesting.

Etran de L’Aïr

Etran de L’Aïr at Grace Wales Bonner Presents: Togetherness at Guggenheim New York on May 3, 2025.

Hannah Turner Harts/BFA.com

This year’s “Togetherness” event was no different and the melting pot that is New York City was the perfect setting. Hip-hop serves as one of Bonner’s many influences and reference points. “The street photography in New York is a way of understanding sound like looking at what people are wearing around their sound systems,” she said during our quick chat, as she referenced the photography of Jamel Shabazz during the early days of hip-hop. “Music and sounds are part of those references.”

When it came to how she approached curating the wide array of acts, she credited the city’s diversity as inspiration. “I feel like that’s what feels quite special about New York,” she began. “That’s what I always love. You can be with people of lots of different ages together, kind of like multi-generational, while also supporting each other. I think I’ve also been thinking about nomadic sound culture and people moving around and taking different influences through that movement. So, that’s been an influence in terms of programming — movement throughout the space and unexpected moments of discovery.”

One of the acts that incapsulated the event’s thesis statement was model, skateboarder and rapper Sage Elsesser, who goes by the artist name Navy Blue. Dipped in Wales Bonner from head-to-toe, he performed songs in the museum’s Lewis Theater and spoke to me about the similarities between his form of storytelling with Grace’s. “Music is the way that I express myself the best,” he told me in a quiet corner tucked away outside of the theater. “It’s the place where I get to express all of my interests and life experiences, like how I was raised, the food, it’s all of it, you know? It’s so multilayered. I think any artform is the crux of where all of your interests meet. So, I get why Grace is so inspired by music, and why she wants to have music be a part of her storytelling.”

Grace says that they first met through the fashion scene in which they both occupy. “There’s different ways that he can show up in the world of what I do,” she said of Elsesser. “I’m a fan of his music, so artists working with artists feels like quite a natural evolution. I’m always kind of like working and collaborating with different artists and researching a lot of different music for my shows, and have relationships with people that have grown and become organic.”

Another one of those artists that Bonner is referring to is Amaarae, whose style of music is hard to put in a box. She and Grace have been trying to connect on something this impactful for a minute and finally got the opportunity to do so. The two of them approach their art in a similarly unpredictable way.

“I think that a great artist is a great artist,” Amaarae told me backstage. “Whether you make music, films, clothing, draw, sculpt, or paint, I think that you go through life, and everything that you do, everything that you go through is a result of your influences and the things that inspire you.”

She added that one can only be inspired and influenced if they live a rich life culturally and educationally. “I absolutely feel the connection to Grace,” she said. “Just the way that we approach art, not just with music and fashion.”

“Togetherness” at the Guggenheim was a special event that bridged the gap not only culturally, but generationally. “I feel like there’s a strong sense of community in New York, which I really love,” Grace said “I also feel like there’s a kind of elevation and kind of sophistication about sounds I hear coming from New York, which I also see in my peers and their music.”

As New York Knicks captain Jalen Brunson would say, the vibes were immaculate on Saturday night (May 3) and I can’t forget to mention the fits which were of course very much splashy, very much flee, very much “I got that s–t on.”

02 May 2025

Beyoncé Hit With Cease-and-Desist from Sphere Owner Over ‘Cowboy Carter’ Concert Footage

The owner of Las Vegas’ Sphere has hit Beyoncé with a cease and desist letter over fan-shot concert footage that shows the superstar picking up a computer-generated version of the iconic Las Vegas venue and briefly juggling it between her hands, Billboard has confirmed.

“Beyoncé — many orders of magnitude larger than the Sphere venue — leans over, picks up the venue, and looms over it,” the letter reads, according to the New York Post, which first reported the news, leading to “significant speculation that Beyoncé will end her tour with a Sphere residency.” (Billboard has not independently obtained the letter.)

The filmed sequence, which plays during an interlude at Beyoncé’s newly launched Cowboy Carter tour, irked Sphere Entertainment Co. executive chairman/CEO James Dolan because Sphere unsuccessfully lobbied the “Texas Hold ‘Em” singer to perform at the venue in the past, sources with knowledge of the negotiations tell Billboard.

Trending on Billboard

Attorneys for Dolan, who is also the chairman/CEO of Madison Square Garden Entertainment Group, want Beyoncé to cut the brief sequence from her three-hour concert, which she performed for a second time at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles on Thursday (May 1).

The letter is addressed to Beyoncé’s production company, Parkwood Entertainment, on behalf of Sphere Entertainment Group and authored by Kathleen McCarthy of the law firm King & Spalding. In the letter, Spaulding accuses Parkwood of using imagery of the Sphere’s likeness “without permission” and accuses the singer of misleading her fans.

“It has recently come to SEG’s attention that a Cowboy Carter tour interlude video contains the unauthorized use of SEG’s intellectual property,” the letter reads. “SEG is sure that multiple aspects of the interlude video, including other brands, clips and music, were duly cleared by the tour with rights permissions from the rights holders whose works were used in the video, as is common practice. SEG, however, was never asked and the prominent appearance and manipulation of SEG’s Sphere™ venue in the video is unauthorized.”

“SEG demands that the tour cease and desist from using the Sphere™ venue in the video immediately,” the letter continues, demanding that Parkwood “refrain from using this imagery on any merchandise, promotional or marketing materials, or in tour movies, etc. Should you fail to do so, SEG reserves all rights to take further action as SEG deems appropriate without notice to you.”

Beyoncé has never played Sphere in Las Vegas, although her representatives reportedly held talks with officials at Sphere Entertainment about a possible residency at the venue several years ago. Those discussions never materialized into bookings and Beyoncé has instead opted to play Allegiant Stadium when her Cowboy Carter tour stops in Las Vegas on July 25 and 26.

Billboard reached out to representatives for Beyoncé and tour promoter Live Nation for comment, but did not receive a response by press time.

02 May 2025

Tyla Reveals the Release Date for Her New Single ‘Bliss’

Tyla revealed on Friday (May 2) that she will release her new “Bliss” single next Friday, May 9.

She posted a promo photo on Instagram that features the “Water” hitmaker crouched in the fetal position with sand crystals covering her glistening skin, which feels reminiscent of the gritty sand-sculpted Balmain gown she wore during her Met Gala debut last year. She joins André 3000, Janelle Monáe, Usher and more dignitaries as a part of the host committee for this year’s gala, which is happening on Monday, May 5. The theme is Superfine: Tailoring Black Style.

“Bliss” is Tyla’s first solo single since she released her self-titled debut album and its deluxe edition, which reached No. 8 on Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums and No. 24 on the Billboard 200. Last month, she hopped on the remix of fellow South African artist WizTheMc’s “Show Me Love,” which hit No. 11 on Billboard Global Excl. US this week (chart dated May 3). Tyla brought out WizTheMc to perform “Show Me Love” during her Coachella set last month, where she also gave fans a preview of “Bliss.” The song’s title is also the name of her Erewhon smoothie, with proceeds benefiting the South African non-profit 18twenty8.

Tyla revealed during her Billboard Women in Music interview that she will be dropping a new album later this year. “I don’t think it’s going to be the same energy [as Tyla] at all, especially with what I’ve started making. It’s different, but also still Tyla,” said the singer, who won the Impact award.

Trending on Billboard

02 May 2025

Pharrell Williams’ Style Evolution: From 2002 to Now

Pharrell Williams has always had impeccable style. From his early days as a producer and performer with the Neptunes and N.E.R.D working on songs for Wreckx-n-Effects, the Clipse, Jay-Z and Nelly, Skateboard P always put a premium on looking good while sounding excellent.

When the world first met Williams — who is a co-chair for the 2025 Met Gala — he was rocking distressed, baggy jeans, track jackets and trucker hats before launching his own bespoke fashion label, Billionaire Boys Club in 2003, followed by spin-offs Ice Cream, Bee Line and Billionaire Girls Club. All along, the multi-hyphenate has relished being a bridge between what the kids are wearing in skate parks and clubs and what’s pushing the envelope on the runways in Milan.

As his client list expanded to include production, songwriting and collaborations with Ed Sheeran, Migos, Beck, SZA, J Balvin and Rauw Alejandro, Williams also branched out on the fashion side, co-designing a line of glasses and jewelry for Louis Vuitton in 2008, followed in 2013 with a sunglass line for Moncler.

Constantly juggling his own music, a heavy production schedule and voicing himself in the 2024 LEGO autobiographical film Piece by Piece, Williams also teamed with G-Star Raw in 2014 on the “RAW For the Oceans” denim collection made from recycled ocean plastic. He followed with a 2014 collab with Uniqlo called “i am OTHER,” then paired with Adidas on a 2016 “Human Race” edition of shoes, and in 2017 designed an $1,100 sneaker for Chanel/Adidas.

His crowning fashion achievement, though, was in February 2023, when Louis Vuitton announced that Williams had been appointed to serve as their men’s creative director, with his first collection for the famed fashion house hitting runways during Paris Men’s Fashion Week in June 2023.

Check out Billboard‘s chronicle of Williams’ fashion evolution.

02 May 2025

Beyoncé Adds Medley of ‘Crazy in Love,’ ‘Single Ladies’ & More Hits to Night 2 of Cowboy Carter Tour

Beyoncé had a surprise in store for the Beyhive at her Cowboy Carter Tour on Thursday (May 1). During her second of five nights at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, Calif., the superstar added a new medley to the setlist encompassing past hits such as “Crazy in Love,” “Single Ladies (Put a Ring On It)” and more.

Queen Bey kicked off the live compilation with a swaggering, slowed-down version of her No. 1 hit from 2003’s Dangerously in Love before ratcheting up the tempo to the instantly recognizable strains of “Single Ladies,” which earned the icon a Grammy Award for song of the year in 2010.

After coming to an abrupt break at the end of “Single Ladies,” Beyoncé proclaimed, “Bring the beat in!” to usher in a shortened rendition of 2012’s “Love on Top.” However, rather than opt to send her vocals into the rafters with the 4-era favorite’s litany of modulating key changes, the singer quickly pivoted to the hook of B’Day smash “Irreplaceable.”

Trending on Billboard

Finally, the “Texas Hold ‘Em” singer finished off the five-song medley with a massive sing-along to “If I Were a Boy,” asking the ecstatic crowd, “Y’all gon’ help me?” before belting out the song’s first verse. “If I were a boy, I think I could understand/ How it feels to love a girl/ I swear I’d be a better man/ I’d listen to her/ ‘Cause I know how it hurts/ When you lose the one you wanted/ ‘Cause you’re taking her for granted/ And everything you have got destroyed,” she later sang on the chorus before the song morphed into Dolly Parton’s cheeky intro to “Jolene.”

Night two of the Cowboy Carter Tour also included a special moment during which Beyoncé invited her mother, Tina Knowles, onstage to congratulate her on the success of her New York Times bestselling memoir, Matriarch.

Check out clips from Beyoncé’s new tour medley of “Crazy in Love,” “Irreplaceable,” “If I Were a Boy” and more below.

01 May 2025

The Weeknd Signs With WME in All Areas

The Weeknd has signed with William Morris Endeavor (WME) in all areas, the agency announced on Thursday (May 1).

He leaves Creative Arts Agency (CAA) after signing with them in 2021, having left WME.

WME is also representing the superstar’s production company, Manic Phase, which produced his 2023 HBO series The Idol and his upcoming feature film Hurry Up Tomorrow, which will be released in theaters on May 16. The Canadian Ethiopian superstar (real name Abel Tesfaye) co-wrote, co-produced and is starring in the psychological thriller, which serves as a companion piece to his sixth studio album of the same name that he released on Jan. 31 via XO and Republic Records. The 22-track LP marked The Weeknd’s fifth Billboard 200 No. 1 album and garnered a Billboard Hot 100 top 10 hit with “Timeless” featuring Playboi Carti. It’s the third and final installment of his last trilogy as The Weeknd, following 2020’s After Hours and 2022’s Dawn FM.

Starting next week, The Weeknd will embark on the After Hours Til Dawn Tour with his “Timeless” collaborator Carti and right-hand producer Mike Dean as special guests. The 2023 leg of the tour ranked No. 8 among the top 40 tours on Billboard‘s year-end Boxscore chart, while the 2024 leg ranked No. 5 among the top 10 highest-grossing R&B tours of the year.

Last month, The Weeknd and Carti’s latest link-up on “Rather Lie” from the latter’s Billboard 200-topping album MUSIC became The Weeknd’s 20th Hot 100 top 10 hit, tying Mariah Carey and Prince for most consecutive years (12) with a top 10 hit.

01 May 2025

Valiant Promises a Trap Dancehall-R&B Fusion on His New ‘Prove Them Wrong’ EP: ‘You Don’t Know Which Songs Could Change Your Life’ 

Hailing from Mannings Hill in the Stony Hill area of Jamaica’s St. Andrew parish, Valiant has emerged as one of the leading voices of dancehall’s new generation – and his forthcoming new EP promises to cement his stardom and carry him into a notably more R&B-infused space.

In 2022, Valiant (born Raheem Bowes) broke through with a scorching string of singles — “Dunce Cheque,” “Siance,” “Speed Off,” “North Caolina,” and “C.A.L (Cut All Losses)” among them – that established his singular slang (“Kotch e hat a lie”) and his melodic approach to trap dancehall. The following year, he dropped his 20-song 4:14 mixtape, which he supported with performances across the Caribbean and the U.K. Although his breakthrough was fairly recent, Valiant, 26, has been recording music for over a decade; the young father was even a part of Popcaan’s Unruly Camp once upon a time.

After signing to Sony Music UK’s newly relaunched Epic Records in late 2023, Valiant dropped his A Gift from Me to You EP, which gave way to an even bigger 2024 — with hits like “Flava,” “Lumbah” and “Baddiedeh.” In 2024, Valiant won best Caribbean music act at the MOBO Awards and male dancehall artist of the year at the Caribbean Music Awards. This year, Valiant is looking to defend his title at the latter award show, which announces its victors on Aug. 28 at Kings Theatre in Brooklyn, N.Y. 

Trending on Billboard

Out on May 23 via Epic/Sony Records UK, Valiant’s forthcoming new EP, Prove Them Wrong, intends to do exactly as its title suggests. From detractors and doubters to those apprehensive of the longevity of dancehall or Valiant’s versatility, the international star is set to level up significantly from his mixtape days. The new set will feature several collaborations, including tracks with Grammy-nominated R&B singer-songwriter Fridayy and fellow Jamaican dancehall star 450, as well as a heavier R&B sound. 

“For this project, I basically did one trap song,” Valiant tells Billboard. “I wanted to give them a different sound; I don’t want it to be [a case where] it sounds like every dancehall project. I wanted different feelings, so I infused my dancehall with a lot of R&B on the new project.” 

Featuring cuts like “Selfish,” “Ugly” and “Whole Lotta,” Prove Them Wrong has already established an intriguing Spanish guitar-laced soundscape complemented by thought-provoking ruminations of masculinity and male beauty politics. With over 128 million official on-demand U.S. streams to his name already, according to Luminate, Valiant hopes to exponentially grow that number as he shares his new music with the world. 

Speaking with Billboard, Valiant explains why he believes in trap dancehall’s longevity, the origins of his stage name, and why he’ll always bet on Drake.

What’s the first song you remember being stuck in your head? 

“Next to You” by Chris Brown and Justin Bieber. 

Who are the dancehall figures that you look up to as you navigate your career? 

Some of the old legends dem like Shabba [Ranks], Yellowman, Vybz Kartel and Mavado. I look pon what they do inna di game, and try to [note] what to do and what not to do. 

Why do you think younger listeners are so drawn to the sound of trap dancehall? 

We, as young people, must believe in [ourselves]. As kids, we were rebellious against the bigger kids dem, so I think [younger listeners] like the rebellious behavior and the crazy, creative style we bring in trap dancehall.  

Do you think this is a style of music that will have longevity? 

Yeah. It’s not like it’s changing from dancehall. If dancehall is the father or the senior, then trap dancehall is the junior. 

What’s your favorite song to perform live? 

Recently, “Baddiedeh.” Before, it was “Cut All Losses.” 

Where’s your favorite place to perform outside of Jamaica? 

Mi love performing in the U.K.; mi like Bahamas and Trinidad, too. The U.K. loves dancehall, dem support dancehall. People really come out to the shows when dancehall artists visit. I remember one time I was in Manchester [Parish in Jamaica] and the parents came backstage like, “The kids won’t go home!” [Laughs.] 

How do you think you’ve grown since putting out 4:14 in 2023? 

4:14 was more of a mixtape I made with friends. It was a vibe. I want fans to hear more from me because there’s a lot of things I couldn’t get to do on [that project]. A lot of people still come to me and say that they listen to 4:14 up to now. Musically, I grow with every song because I always try fi do different things and different sounds. Even if I get criticized, I always try — because you nuh know which songs could cross over and change your life. 

Which producers did you work with for Prove Them Wrong? 

The producers for this project are DJ Mac, KVRIM, GI, Emoji Records and Crown Heights. 

How many tracks should we expect? 

Still unknown, but it’s gonna be the length of an album. It’s basically an album. 

What was the studio session for “Whole Lotta” like? 

I was in the studio with KVRIM and a few other writers, catching a vibe and chilling. I wanted a song that was not about the trap. We never want it to sound speaky-spokey, so we infused the patois with R&B melodies and the Spanish guitar in the riddim. 

Do you prefer singing or rapping? 

Mi love singing! Growing up, I was singing a lot, and I’ve learned to master my craft. I know when to deejay and when not to deejay, but I’m trying to branch out because I mostly just want to sing.  

Who are some vocalists that you study? 

I like Sam Smith’s vocals, and Alicia Keys, Adele and John Legend. That’s the type of music I like too. 

Who are some of your favorite R&B artists right now? 

I like Chris Brown. Partynextdoor and Fridayy too. The Weeknd. 

Who’s the greatest rapper alive? 

Eminem and then Drake. Drake is an all-around artist and a hitmaker. I’m not saying Kendrick [Lamar] is not a good artist – we need both of them – but if I had to book somebody, I’m booking Drake. If you carry Drake to Jamaica, everybody knows a song from Drake. If Kendrick comes out, they’ll know three or four songs max maybe. Mi sure of that, mi can bet money pon dat. But the crowd will still come out for Kendrick because he’s Kendrick. 

Who are some of your dream collaborators? 

Rihanna – [I want to do] a whole album with her. 

You broke through in the TikTok era of the music industry. How do you think that platform has impacted dancehall specifically? 

It’s a good marketing strategy to let people from all over the world hear your music. The younger generation, even the older generation, they’re on TikTok, right? It’s a platform where you can promote a business, your music, anything, and all you have to do is post a short video. It’s a different game. 

How’d you come up with your stage name? 

I got it from the title of [a 2005 animated film] about birds [fighting in World War II]. It was one of my favorite [movies] growing up, so I looked up the meaning and saw that “valiant” meant courage and brave and all that. Mi seh, “Yuh know? It fit meh.” At first, I was Raheem Melody, and then I changed it. 

What excites you most about this generation of dancehall artists? 

I like how competitive it is, everybody wanna be on top. I’m trying to cross over.  I like to be consistent. I like that my name is always called when discussing the new generation. It’s competitive, but it’s all unity. The new generation is more cooperative and will link up and do things together. 

30 Apr 2025

Victoria Monét Celebrates Taking Daughter to First Beyoncé Concert: ‘One of My All-Time Biggest Dreams Came True’

Victoria Monét checked a mommy-daughter moment off her parenting bucket list this week when she brought her baby girl, Hazel Monét, to her first concert as Beyoncé kicked off her Cowboy Carter Tour on Monday night.

The “On My Mama” singer posted a carousel of clips and photos from the heartwarming evening with friends and her daughter, who rocked a pink cowboy hat as part of her concert attire, at Bey’s SoFi Stadium show in Inglewood, California.

“One of my all time biggest dreams came true: I took my daughter to her first concert ever! Well..Besides my show…and OF COURSE it had to be Queen Bey,” she wrote Tuesday on Instagram. “Hazel has been a fan of her music since before she could walk and often requests to watch her performances and documentaries! She was with me and all her aunties having a TIME and I can tell she really enjoyed seeing everyone else dressed in the same theme once we arrived! She was excited!”

Trending on Billboard

Monét enjoyed spending time with her daughter, who was engaged throughout the concert and revealed she’s a big fan of Bey’s daughter, Blue Ivy.

“The show was flawless and the energy in the stadium felt so celebratory and beautiful,” she continued. “It was super amazing to see Hazel actively studying and engaged in the show (she held that bread in her hand and stared for a good hour straight ) she’s also a HUGE fan a Blue and was pleasantly surprised to her and Rumi on stage! When they left the stage she said “where did her daughter go” lol.”

The Grammy-winning singer admitted her “heart melted” when her daughter told her she wants to be a performer, just like her mother.

“She said this is what she wants to do when she grows up! My heart melted and it was such a special moment that I can’t wait to ask her if she remembers when she’s older until then I will continue to show her the BEST of the best to ever do it !! @beyonce WE LOVE YOU,” she concluded.

Monét’s fandom of Beyoncé came full-circle from the time she attempted to write for Bey back in 2018 to the Houston native naming VM as one of her favorite artists of 2024. Monét also gushed about meeting Bey for the first time at the 2024 Grammy Awards, where she referred to the music icon as her “idol,” “queen” and “inspiration.”

Victoria Monét is yet to release a single in 2025 but hopped on Davido’s “Offa Me,” which landed on the Nigerian artist’s 5ive album earlier in April.

30 Apr 2025

Prymax Media Acquires ‘Hidden Treasures’ From Estate of Jewel Records Founder Stan Lewis

Prymax Media & Technology Group has acquired all the remaining masters from the estate of music industry pioneer Stan Lewis, founder of the legendary labels Jewel Records, Paula Records and Ronn Records. While Prymax Media declined to reveal the purchase price, Billboard can exclusively report that the New York-based private investment firm’s acquisition encompasses more than 1,600 songs. Those include recordings by Aretha Franklin, Gladys Knight & the Pips, Willie Nelson, Ike & Tina Turner, Albertina Walker and Lightnin’ Hopkins, among other iconic artists representing America’s golden era of blues, R&B, soul, rock & roll, gospel and country.

Prior to co-founding Prymax Media in 2020, Tyrone Holmes worked primarily as a music and film producer who collaborated with Grammy-winning artist Faith Evans and late Stellar Award-winning artist LaShun Pace, among others. In a statement announcing his firm’s acquisition, Holmes said, “This is about more than just reclaiming music. It’s about preserving cultural heritage and sharing stories that have long been silenced. With the release of this vault, we’re not only honoring the legacy of the artists involved but also opening the door for new interpretations and collaborations in the future. These recordings were hidden treasures, and now we can introduce them to the world.”

Trending on Billboard

Added Beverly Paige, a member of the Prymax team, “This isn’t just an acquisition it’s the recovery of a cultural legacy.  We look forward to seeing how this music resonates with lifelong fans as well as invite newcomers to discover the rich legacy of music that has shaped the industry. We’re also excited for the conversations it will spark around the significance and impact of gospel music in our lives.”

In addition to the aforementioned Albertina Walker — aka “The Queen of Gospel Music”— Prymax’s acquisition features released and unreleased recordings by fellow gospel artists Shirley Caesar and Dorothy Norwood, Jimmy Reed, Bobby Rush, John Lee Hooker and Malcolm X. Among the song titles now under new ownership are “Judy in Disguise,” the 1967 No. 1 hit by John Fred and His Playboy Band, “I Feel Good” by John Lee Hooker, “Knock on Wood” by Ike & Tina Turner and “A Message for You” by Curtis Mayfield.

Beyond fully finished tracks, the catalog cache includes rare studio sessions and alternate takes.

Lewis’ industry career began with the opening of Stan’s Record Shop in Shreveport, Louisiana in 1948 (a frequent customer was the yet-unknown Elvis Presley) from money earned selling newspapers. From there at age 20, he established what became the South’s largest independent record distribution network. In addition to Chess Records, where he also worked for a time, Lewis represented several other independent labels such as Atlantic, Checker and Specialty. Moving back to Shreveport after his Chess stint in Chicago, Lewis founded Jewel Records in 1963. Its roster and catalog holdings included Big Joe Turner, John Lee Hooker, Ike & Tina Turner, Aretha Frankline, B.B. King and Fats Domino. Prior to establishing Jewel, he had begun producing music artists while also co-writing with Dale Hawkins the 1957 rock & roll classic “Susie Q.”

Lewis later bought the masters of Chicago blues label Cobra Records in the late ‘60s (home to Buddy Guy). Then came the founding of the Paula (named after his wife Pauline) and Ronn imprints. The former sported a roster headed by The Uniques (led by Joe Stampley), Toussaint McCall, John Fred and His Playboy Band and others.

It was Garland Jones, owner of record store Garland Super Sounds and a longtime Lewis mentee, who helped the latter’s son Lenny outline all the music assets in Lewis’ vault before his death in 2018.

“After a decade-long legal battle, I finally obtained the rights to Stan Lewis’s succession and successfully sold this extraordinary, once forgotten collection of music to Prymax Media,” said Jones. “This partnership now can resonate with and inspire a new generation. The collection also includes the complete unreleased vault from the legendary Q Records and Gramercy Records.” 

Attorney Jeffrey D. Garfin oversaw the transaction for Prymax Media. “The material derived from the estate of Stan ‘The Record Man’ Lewis represents a literal time capsule containing hundreds of unknown recordings from incredibly well-known artists,” commented Garfin. “Many of these iconic performers are no longer with us. So to be able to hear alternate takes on their hits and even new material is just fantastic. I’m honored to be shepherding these recordings into the 21st century.”