State Champ Radio halloween
Page: 2
Trending on Billboard When it comes to pop stars with instantly recognizable looks, Britney Spears should always be in the conversation. Based on her first costume for this year’s Halloween festivities, it looks like Paris Hilton agrees. On Monday (Oct. 27), several days before the actual Halloween holiday, Hilton shared pictures of her Britney-inspired costume […]
Check out horrifying visuals from Sabrina Carpenter, NIN, Rihanna, Doja Cat, Tool and other artists who will haunt your All Hallows Eve.
10/27/2025
Trending on Billboard
Christmas music decks the halls of the Billboard Holiday 100 at the end of every year, but some creepy cuts lurk around the October charts as well. And make no bones about it: If you create a monster hit in the lab, it may come back to haunt the hit parade every fall. For years, Billboard has tracked the graveyard smashes, thriller nights and legal nightmares that have sunk their teeth into the KILLboard Rot 100.
‘Monster’ Hit
After the novelty single “Monster Mash” by Bobby “Boris” Pickett and the Crypt-Kickers began getting radio play in Boston, the Sept. 29, 1962, Billboard reported that “Boris, Igor and the other bloodsuckers” were clawing their way up the charts. A week later, Billboard profiled Pickett, calling the Army veteran and stage comedian a “versatile lad” who “still holds on to his ambition to be an actor.” On the same page ran a feature about another new act: The Beach Boys. Pickett’s song hit No. 1 by the end of the month — a feat that took the surfin’ slackers another two years.
License to Thrill-er
“The video has a ghoulish theme,” warned the Dec. 3, 1983, Billboard of Michael Jackson’s zombie-filled video for “Thriller,” “but it is brightened by clever plot twists.” The article explained why the video opens with a title card disavowing any “belief in the occult”: Jackson’s discomfort with the video’s imagery, “one reason he avoided a Halloween tie-in.” He didn’t need one. The Dec. 24 issue said the video “shipped a reported 100,000 units — the highest initial shipment in history for an original non-theatrical video.”
Giving Up the Ghost
“It’s the ‘bad boy’ at his most playful in a call-and-response dance-rocker from the film of the same name,” the June 9, 1984, Billboard said of Ray Parker Jr.’s “Ghostbusters.” In the Aug. 11 issue, a headline declared “Bustin’ Makes Ray Feel Good” as the song hit No. 1. And while Parker wasn’t afraid of no ghosts, what about Huey Lewis’ lawyers? They sued him in a plagiarism case for similarities to Lewis’ “I Want a New Drug.” “It’s more like M’s ‘Pop Muzik,’ ” Parker insisted in the Aug. 25 issue.
Lawyers Just Don’t Understand
The Fresh Prince & DJ Jazzy Jeff scared up a lawsuit of their own with the Hot 100 top 15 hit “A Nightmare on My Street.” That title “is turning out to be prophetic,” quipped the Aug. 6, 1988, Billboard. “New Line Cinema, which produces and distributes the A Nightmare on Elm Street series of films, has served papers.” The legal scare buried the song’s video but the soundtrack to the fourth Freddy Krueger flick was still DOA. “Nightmare films have never produced a hit soundtrack,” declared the Sept. 3, 1988, issue. “This one won’t do the trick, either.”
This Is Halloween
“While the holiday doesn’t generate monster-selling albums like Christmas does, the scary celebration has spurred a number of solid-selling titles,” according to the Nov. 2, 2013, issue, citing the “soundtrack to Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas,” as well as a long-out-of-print sound effects collection called Sounds of Halloween, which “had moved 528,000 copies to date.” Now, thanks to screaming — er, streaming — platforms Halloween hits rise from the grave every year.
This story appears in the Oct. 25, 2025, issue of Billboard.
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.
Trending on Billboard
With the 2025-26 NBA season in full swing and Halloween right around the corner, Nike is entering spooky season with holiday-themed basketball sneakers worth adding to your collection. From “Slim Reaper” KD18’s to a “Candy Corn Queen” A’One shoe, the brands most popular styles are receiving a fun, fright night makeover. Shop our five favorite Halloween-themed Nike basketball sneakers below.
Explore
See latest videos, charts and news
Nike
KD18 “Slim Reaper” Basketball Shoes
Starting off with the KD18’s, the signature basketball shoe for Kevin Durant, gets a Slim Reaper transformation inspired by the hoopers intimidating and unstoppable offensive presence that “defenders never see it coming,” according to Nike. The silhouette features a glow-in-the-dark outsole and a striking, slender skeleton hand design across the midfoot cage. If you’re looking to put fear in the heart of your opponent, grab of these special-edition KD18’s below for $170.
Nike
Ja 3 “Spooky Season” Basketball Shoes
It’s scary times when you see Ja Morant charing full speed at you on the court. In honor of his ghostly quickness and bone-chilling bounce when attempting one of his viral posterizing dunks, Nike has kitted out the Ja 3 with a “spooky season” colorway. This special Halloween themed design features a zombie-esque aesthetic with a striking green and lemon yellow pairing and an eye-catching vertical red Swoosh logo next to a graffiti-sprayed “A”—and grimy scratch marks as a final touch. Go full zombie mode on the hardwood with the Nike Ja 3 Halloween.
Nike
A’One “Candy Corn Queen” Basketball Shoes
Whether you love or hate candy corn, you can’t deny that this special edition colorway is a sweet treat for Halloween. Dubbed “Candy Corn Queen,” 4x WNBA MVP A’ja Wilson’s signature shoe includes a vibrant safety orange and chrome yellow gradient that pops across a midsole resembling candy-like textures. If you have a sweet tooth, these Nike’s will satisfy your craving.
Nike
Book 1 “Scorpion” Basketball Shoes
The freaks come out at night, especially with latest Book 1 Halloween colorway. What may look like a sleek and minimal design with the light on, in the dark (or with a UV light) fans will notice creepy crawlers riddled all over the sneaker. There’s also a glow-in-the-dark outsole to add even more spooky elements. Devin Booker’s signature shoe receives a black-rainbow leather upper comes with a printed scorpion pattern hidden in plain sight.
Nike
G.T. Hustle 3 “Haunted Heights” Basketball Shoes
“Haunting Heights” is a fitting name for the 7’5 superstar Victor Wembanyama. The tallest guy on the court is also a guy who can do everything. From dribbling, shooting, to blocking shots and defending, there’s nothing this San Antonio Spur can’t do. Coaches must lie awake at night haunted by trying plan schemes to stop Wemby. His Halloween-themed basketball shoe features a fiery orange tint with flame-motifs throughout.
It was a graveyard smash on Halloween this year, as musicians did the monster mash nationwide while showing off their creative and elaborate costume ideas. As usual, Heidi Klum hosted her annual Halloween Party, this year presented by Butterfinger, Mattel, and Prime Video at New York City’s The Venue on Music Row. Known for her […]
HipHopWired Featured Video
Source: Shareif Ziyadat / Getty
Westside Gunn is staying true to tradition of releasing a new project every Halloween. The MC says 11 is his most personal project ever.
It seems the Buffalo, N.Y., native is looking to close out 2024 strong. Every year his fans expect him to release something new on the spooky unofficial holiday, and he did not disappoint. 11 features five new tracks all produced by Denny Laflare. With no guest appearances from other rappers, this effort is all Gunn as he prepares this loyal fanbase for the release of his new album Still Praying, which is scheduled to drop Friday (Nov. 1). According to the press release, FLYGOD deems this project as his most personal yet. “11 is the most personal project I ever made, it’s dedicated to my brother who was killed in April, but narrated by my brother who has life in prison fighting to come home,” Gunn explains. “This is the reality for Westside Gunn.”
“Stone” opens things up with a drop from late great DJ Kay Slay and transitions to a slow but grim instrumental. Here Gunn catches up with his friend Donald “Sly” Green, who is serving four life sentences. From there we get a return to the classic Griselda sound with “Unkle Howdy” and “Cain Tejada.” Additionally, we get a verse from Griselda’s in-house poet Keisha Plum on “BIG DUMP BALLAD.” You can purchase and stream Westside Gunn’s 11 here.
Oops, Paris Hilton did it again! The “Stars Are Blind” star took to Instagram on Halloween (Oct. 31) to show off her costume this year, and she channeled her pal Britney Spears. Explore See latest videos, charts and news See latest videos, charts and news Rocking braids, bangs and a school girl uniform, Hilton nailed […]
This is Halloween! This is Halloween — and today’s biggest stars weren’t afraid to go all out for their costumes this spooky season. Couples costumes were strong this year, with Selena Gomez and Benny Blanco kicking things off in whimsical Alice in Wonderland-inspired costumes. The Rare Beauty founder rocked a blonde wig and light blue dress […]
When Janelle Monáe sang that she was “an alien from outer space” on 2008’s “Violet Stars Happy Hunting,” she meant it — she so committed to the bit, in fact, that her lyric is paying off 16 years later. On Wednesday (Oct. 30), Monáe showed off her photo-realistic costume for Halloween 2024, where she dressed […]
Megan Thee Stallion loves her some DC Comics, and she kicked off Halloween week — aka Hottieween — with her Starfire costume. Starfire Thee Stallion graced Instagram with her photo shoot on Tuesday, and Meg’s costume even got the attention of DC Studios CEO James Gunn. “STARFIRE THEE STALLION #hottieween24,” she captioned the customized comic-book […]
