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30 Apr 2024

Kendrick Lamar Takes Jabs at Drake With ‘Euphoria’ Drop, Dua Lipa Previews New Blonde Locks, Blue Ivy Carter Stars in ‘Mufasa: The Lion King’ & More | Billboard News

It’s Tuesday, April 30th, and we have lots to go through with your favorites. Kendrick Lamar just dropped his new diss track aimed at Drake, titled “euphoria.” Katy Perry is seen rocking a new ‘do for ‘American Idol,’ Dua Lipa shares new blonde hairdo and Blue Ivy Carter is making her film debut alongside Beyoncé in Mufasa: The Lion King. Myke Towers is our Billboard Español cover star and he gives us an exclusive look into his day-to-day life. Aitana shares what it was like to work alongside her ex, Sebastián Yatra. WILLOW stopped by the studio to share how her new album, ‘empathogen,’ is authentic to who she is now and more!

Rania Aniftos:
Kendrick disses Drake again, Katy’s new hair, Dua’s new zine and Blue Ivy’s new role. Aitana talks ex Sebastián Yatra, Myke Towers takes over the cover of Billboard Español and WILLOW Smith drops by our studio.

Welcome to another episode of Billboard News, I’m Rania Aniftos, and let’s jump right in. If you thought the Kendrick Lamar and Drake beef was anywhere near squashed, Kendrick just turned up the heat. Kendrick Lamar surprise dropped “euphoria” in response to Drake’s “Push Ups” and “Taylor Made Freestyle” where he used AI to include Tupac in the diss track “euphoria” is over six minutes of diss after diss mostly against Drake, but also J. Cole. That’s likely in reference to rapper YNW Melly who is currently on trial for allegedly killing two of his friends. He pleaded not guilty to the charges. Kendrick also touches on Drake’s feud with Pusha T and brings up one of his recent collaborators. And that’s just some of the many disses in “euphoria.” For a full breakdown of the song head over to billboard.com.

Of course, we got more news to get to, here’s Three Things You Should Know. Katy Perry debuted a new ‘do while filming ‘American Idol’ and while she asked her fans opinions, the truth is… So all of you KatyCats to experienced witness PTSD, don’t worry. Also, who cares? Katy looks good. Now bring on ‘KP6’.

Watch the full video above!

30 Apr 2024

Bun B and Chase B Debate the Best Get Up Anthems of Houston | Billboard x Tres Generaciones Tequila

Billboard and Tres Generaciones Tequila are partnering to find the Get Up Anthems of select cities, and the first stop is Houston, Texas. In conversation with Rocsi Diaz, Houston natives Bun B and Chase B sat with Billboard’s Damien Scott and Cat Johnson to curate their top 10 Get Up Anthems for Houston. The list includes songs that inspired and energized their city, by Houston artists, presented by Tres Generaciones Tequila.

Bun B:
All right, look, I’m gonna just, I’m gonna just throw it out there because somebody’s got to say, this is No. 1.

Cat Johnson:
One?

Bun B:
I’m gonna let y’all argue this with me. I’m gonna let you argue this, but there is no record in Houston, I think, in 2024 that more people will agree represent Houston.

Rosci Diaz:
Hi, I’m Rosci Diaz, and I’m on a journey with Billboard and Tres Generaciones Tequila to celebrate and toast the power music has to inspire us. Together, we’re setting out to curate the official Get Up Anthems for cities across the country. We’re going to be crowning those iconic tracks which have inspired, captivated and energized each city’s essence. And first up, The Bayou City, Houston, Texas. Thanks, Cliff.

Joining me is none other than the legendary rapper and entrepreneur, Bun B, whose lyrics have shaped the very essence of Houston’s rap scene. Alongside him we have acclaimed DJ and music producer Chase B, whose electrifying sets have ignited stages worldwide. And let’s not forget Billboard‘s very own Damien Scott and Cat Johnson, whose editorial insight and passion for music have illuminated countless narratives within the industry.

So a few weeks ago, we all met up to start the process of identifying the city’s official Get Up Anthems. We started using Billboard‘s charts and the data that they have and use it as a springboard to narrow … 

Watch the full video above!

30 Apr 2024

Willow Talks New Album ‘Empathogen,’ Reflects on ‘Whip My Hair’ 10 Years Later & More | Billboard News

Willow talks about her new album Empathogen, how it different from her last album, the vision she had for the two singles “Alone” and “Symptom of Life,” reflects on the virality and success of “Whip My Hair” 10 years later, the success “Meet Me At Our Spot,” how her biggest music influences came from her mom, the potential of collaboration with her brother Jaden Smith and more!

Willow:
And there’s something to learn from that. You know what I’m saying? And it’s beautiful.

Tetris Kelly:
Sometimes you don’t gotta think about it, you just gotta put it out there.

Willow:
I’m gonna remember that this is looking at, I’m gonna remember that. Hey, I’m Willow, and this is Billboard News.

Tetris Kelly:
Hey, it’s Tetris with Billboard News hanging out with someone who doesn’t really need an introduction, but hi, Willow! How are you?

Willow:
Hi, I’m so good, I’m so happy to be here.

Tetris Kelly:
I’m so excited about your new album. It’s out this week — nervous?

Willow:
Oh, my goodness, I don’t think I’ve ever been more excited for a project to come out. I’m just I can’t wait for people to hear it.

Tetris Kelly:
And the title, love that Empathogen. Tell me the inspiration about why you wanted to name the album that?

Willow:
Well, you know, during the time that you know, these songs were kind of coming into being and I was creating this concept for the album, I was learning a lot about indigenous plant medicine. Another, you know name for these molecular compounds. These ancient molecular compounds are called empathogens — empathy and pathogens — pathogens that create empathy when you ingest them. And yeah, I just … I just thought that was a really beautiful explanation of, you know, kind of how I want to walk in the world, how I want to affect the space when I enter the space. And I just thought that was a really cool name.

Watch the full video above!

30 Apr 2024

Myke Towers Spends the Day With Billboard in Miami | Billboard Cover

Billboard spends the day with its latest cover star and Latin superstar Myke Towers, who takes us around Miami to share his gym routine and leads us behind the scenes of his Billboard cover shoot, how he works in the recording studio and more!

Myke Towers
Hi my people, this is the Young King, Myke Towers and I’m inviting you to spend the day with me. We are at the gym now. Let’s work out.

Myke Towers
I’ve been working out for a year or so, it’s not really like I love to work out, but when I saw the results at the shows, I thought “Hmmm, I have to keep on working out in the gym.” Also it helps me clear my mind. I usually train with a coach because I get bored if I do it alone and, you have someone who motivates you like, “Come on, do this.” Otherwise I wouldn’t even come. I need to have music to keep me motivated and even more so if it’s hardcore going out music. I work out five days a week and the other days… I don’t. It helps me be calmer about things because I am able to release that energy and deal with things better.

Myke Towers
When I wrote my first song, I was 18 years old, and it was like a freestyle. It wasn’t even a song but I already had something written. I don’t remember it, but I know it was the first thing I memorized to sing to everyone. I sang it a lot. Nobody believed I had written it. It helped me break the ice.

Watch the full video above!

29 Apr 2024

Taylor Swift’s ‘The Tortured Poets Department’ Breaks More Records, Rihanna Teases New Album Again, Hot 100 Reveal & More | Billboard News

It’s Monday, April 29th, and Taylor Swift hits another record on the Billboard 200 with the release of her double album ‘The Tortured Poets Department.’ She makes a huge debut at No. 1, securing her 14th chart topping album. The Hot 100 is in, who takes the cake? Keep watching to find out. Rihanna is at it again teasing her new album and what type of tracks could potentially be on it. Jess Glynne takes us behind the photo, WILLOW stopped by the Billboard studio to share more about her upcoming album and more!

Tetris Kelly:

Taylor Swift makes a historic debut with ‘The Tortured Poets Department.’ The album does a complete takeover on The Hot 100, Rihanna teases R9 leaving fans wanting more and we give you a preview of our chat with WILLOW Smith. Welcome to a brand new week of Billboard News we’ve got a lot to get into, so let’s start with our top story. To no one’s surprise Taylor Swift’s ‘The Tortured Poets Department’ made a huge debut on the Billboard 200, it broke some other records too. Taylor herself reacted to the huge news posting on Twitter, “My mind is blown. I’m completely floored by the love you’ve shown this album.” The album debuted at No. 1 on the chart is the superstars 14 chart topping album. That makes her tied with Jay-Z for the most No. 1 albums for solo artist in the nearly 70 year history of the chart. Only The Beatles are ahead with 19 No. 1 albums. The album launch with 2.61 million equivalent album sales and over 891 million official streams with 1.9 million traditional album sales, it’s instantly the top selling album of 2024. To put that number into context, the second biggest selling album counting weekly sales from January to now is Beyonce ‘Cowboy Carter’ with 228,000 copies total. Taylor does it again. Taylor Swift breaking records who would have guessed? Here’s this week’s chart. Taylor Swift’s the ‘The Tortured Poets Department’ has done a complete takeover.

Keep watching to learn more!

29 Apr 2024

Jess Glynne Shares the Story Behind Her Photo With the Spice Girls & More | Behind the Photo | Billboard

Jess Glynne shares stories behind her photo with the Spice Girl, photos in the studio, performing on stage and more in this episode of Behind the Photo with Billboard.

Jess Glynne
Hey, I’m Jess Glynne and this is behind the photo with Billboard. This picture was taken in Rack studios in North London, where I’ve recorded a lot of this album. I remember it quite specifically, I wrote the intro to the album. And this was a moment where I was obviously listening to the record back and my friend Jolene, who’s my creative director for it, let’s take a nice little snap. This is a really like beautiful moment, because there was like a few tears actually, that day. This picture is me onstage last year at Radio 1, this was quite a special moment for me because I had not been onstage for I would say, three to four years. It’s been a minute, it was actually like a really big relief being onstage and like everyone’s reaction, and this moment, captures it all. This is a picture of me at Wembley Stadium with the Spice Girls. And this was just before our last show. This was one of the most surreal moments of my life. The Spice Girls was the first gig I ever went to at Wembley Arena as a kid, my manager came up to me, he was like, the Spice Girls are getting back together and doing a tour and they want you to go on tour with them. And I was like, shut up. And he was like, yeah, like, do you want to do it? And I was like, Is this real? Fast forward, it was real. I went on the tour with the Spice Girls. And it was one of the most insane moments and probably one of the biggest highlights of my career. And I will never forget walking out into that stadium for the first time. And there shows that in and I actually felt like a little kid. So that was a moment I will never forget. This is me pouting with my new merch hat on that says I take you for breakfast. And that is a lyric from my musical. “Enough” is a really important song for this record. It was the first song that I wrote that I decided was going to be on the album, it kind of set me up for the messaging of this record. And like when we were announcing the album, The only song that made sense to kind of release with that moment was this song because it kind of summarizes the journey that I’ve been on and where I’m at now. And it’s crazy because the songs kind of evolved for me in its meaning over the years, but when I listened to it now it’s like a really nice kind of reassuring message that I am enough.

29 Apr 2024

Billboard Hot 100 Top 10 Countdown for May 4, 2024 | Billboard News

Tetris Kelly:
Taylor Swift’s The Tortured Poets Department has done a complete takeover. This is the Billboard Hot 100 top 10 for the week dated May 4.

At No. 10 is “Guilty As Sin.”

“Who’s Afraid of Little Oh Me?” is in at No. 9.

Florence + The Machine joins Taylor at No. 8.

“But Daddy I Love him” is at No. 7.

At No. 6 is “My Boy Only Breaks His Favorite Toys.”

“So Long, London” is at No. 5.

The title track is in at No. 4, with “I Can Do It With a Broken Heart” at No. 3.

“Down Bad” is in at No. 2.

In the top spot is Taylor’s 12th No. 1, “Fortnight” featuring Post Malone.

Watch the full video above!

26 Apr 2024

Normani’s New Single ‘1:59,’ Anitta’s ‘Funk Generation,’ Doja Cat’s Backlash, Latin AMAs 2024 Recap & More | Billboard News

It’s Friday, April 26th, and Doja Cat is getting backlash about her performance at Coachella, with many stating it wasn’t “safe for kids.” Normani released her new single featuring Gunna “1:59,” Anitta dropped her new album ‘Funk Generation’ and more. The Latin AMAs happened yesterday and we have all the updates from behind the scenes with some of Latin music’s biggest names. Songwriter and artist Keityn sits down with us to share how he’s created some of the biggest Latin hits with Shakira, Karol G, Maluma and more. With the release of her new album ‘Funk Generation,’ we take a look back at all of her hits on the Hot 100 and more!

Tetris Kelly:

Doja Cat is not safe for work or your kids, new music from Normani and more. We take you to the Latin AMAs, have an interview with Keityn and an in-depth look at Anitta. It’s almost the weekend, which means we’ve got a ton of new music to get to in our Friday Music Guide. More new music throughout the show, but it’s time to get to our top story. Are Doja Cat’s shows not safe for kids? She’s saying hell no in a rant on X, but is she wrong? Doja just popped off at Coachella, but it’s not for everybody. The Billboard chart-topper posted today, “I don’t know what the f— you think this is but I don’t make music for children so leave your kids at home motherf—er.” Um, okay girl. … A fan asked if she was high and she answered “maintenance.” We love a high maintenance queen.

Get ready for a vocal master class. VINCINT’s got the feels and the vibes with “LEAN.”  Feid & Karol G, who wasn’t able to attend, took home the most awards of the night at the Latin AMAs.

Watch the full episode above!

26 Apr 2024

Anitta’s Rise on the Charts | Billboard Explains

With the release of Anitta’s album, ‘Funk Generation’ we take a look at her various Billboard charts accomplishments especially with her debut on the Billboard Hot 100 with “Me Gusta” and later hits like “Bellaqueo” and “Envolver.”

Anitta:

Now I’m working on an album like in full funk, full like of my culture!

Narrator:

Anitta is bringing the funk with the release of her upcoming album ‘Funk Generation.’ To celebrate the release of her sixth studio album, we’re looking back at some of her biggest chart accomplishments. This is Billboard Explains: Anitta’s Rise On The Charts. Anitta made her Billboard Hot 100 debut with “Me Gusta” featuring Cardi B and Myke towers back in October 2020, where it peaked at number 91. Since then, she’s had two more songs on the Hot 100 “Bellaqueo” with Peso Puma that reached number 53. And “Envolver” which peaked at number 70. “Envolver” was a viral hit for Anitta that spent one week at No. 1 on the Billboard global excluding U.S. chart. Over on Hot Latin Songs, the song is one of Anitta’s four Top 10 hits alongside “Machika” with J Balvin and Jeon which reached No. 10. That collab also saw success on Latin Airplay, where it spent one week at No. 1 in 2018. Anitta also has five Top 10s on Latin Pop Airplay, and three Top 10s on Latin Rhythm Airplay, where will ‘Funk Generation land on the charts? We can’t wait to find out.

26 Apr 2024

Keityn Shares How He Writes Big Hits With Karol G, Shakira, Maluma & More | Billboard News

Songwriter and artist Keityn shares how he’s created some of biggest Latin hits in recent history with Shakira (“Shakira: Bzrp Music Sessions, Vol. 53”), Karol G with (“Tusa,””Provenza” and “TCQ”), Maluma (“Hawái”). He shares that he’s written for J Balvin’s new album, talks about how Shakira’s “Acróstico” is a testament to her motherhood, his new song with Tiago, how he finds songwriting inspiration and more!

Keityn
When we did “Hawái” we didn’t think about the artist, it was stored for 6 months. I showed it to several artists and they didn’t want it.


Leila Cobo
Really?


Keityn
Hi I’m Keityn and this is Billboard News.


Leila Cobo
We are happy to have you, because you’ve just won the ASCAP composer of the year.


Keityn
Yes, I won that Composer of the Year.


Leila Cobo
11 songs, including which ones?


Keityn
“Bzrp Music Sessions 53″ with Shakira, I think “TQG,” “Acróstico,” I can’t remember, can I look at a photo?


Leila Cobo
Look at a photo because it is an impressive list.


Keityn
Yes.


Leila Cobo
While you look at the photo, I want to know how do you make a song like “TQG?”


Keityn
“Monotonía,” “Frágil,” “El Amor su de Vida,” “Amargura,” the one with Romeo “for the last time,” “Según Quién,” “Mi Ex Tenía Razón,” “El Amor su de Vida,” and that’s it.


Leila Cobo
Nothing.


Keityn
There are little things.


Leila Cobo
Among those 11 songs, 8 or 9 sung by women.


Keityn
Almost all of them.


Leila Cobo
You are a man at a time when many people are saying women should sing songs made by women, but it seems like you have the skill to know how to think like women.

Watch the full interview above!