Media

22 Apr 2024

Drake Uses AI for New Diss Track, Taylor Swift Breaks Records, Rihanna Teases New Album & More | Billboard News

It’s Monday, April 22nd, and we’re starting off the week with fiery disses and records breaking. Drake released an AI track further digging at Kendrick Lamar. The track, ‘Taylor Made Freestyle,’ uses AI to emulate the voices of icons Tupac Shakur & Snoop Dog. Taylor Swift once again breaks records with the release of her double album ‘The Tortured Poets Department.’ The Spice Girls reunited over the weekend for Victoria Beckham’s, Posh Spice, 50th birthday bash where they rejoined for a brief dance routine to one of their own songs. Rihanna finally gives her fans a clue as to when she’ll be releasing a new album. Who tops this week’s Hot 100? Keep watching to find out. J Balvin shares behind the scenes of his out of this world Coachella set. We shine a light on the Nova music festival exhibit in New York City.

Tetris Kelly:

Taylor’s big day of sales, Spice Girls reunite and Rihanna talks music-ish? Drake uses AI to diss Kendrick Lamar. We take you behind the scenes of J Balvin’s epic Coachella set. Run down who’s on top of the Billboard Hot 100, we take you inside New York’s Nova Festival Exhibit. Happy Monday, I’m Tetris, it’s April 22, and I’m so happy to be here to bring you Billboard News. Today is full of all the biggest names making headlines. So let’s get right into it with Drake? Drake drops a diss track featuring AI versions of Tupac and Snoop Dogg and everyone’s unsure on how to react. Drake continued his feud with Kendrick Lamar with his diss track, “Taylor Made Freestyle,” which starts off with an AI Tupac Shakur addressing the rap beef. It made quite a few people online uncomfortable considering Tupac is dead and can’t consent to his voice in the song, but it’s not the only AI voice on the track. Drake also used AI to put Snoop Dogg in the song and Snoop reacted to it on IG. If you’re wondering about the title of the track, well he does shout out T-Swift. While we are here for the Kendrick-Drake rivalry, a lot are not here for the use of AI. What do you think of the diss track and its use of AI? Well, let us know in the comments. And that may be a heck of a story, but there’s still more news.

Keep watching to learn more!

22 Apr 2024

Usher Ruled the Billboard Charts in 2004 With ‘Yeah’ and ‘Burn’ | Pop Culture Rewind | Billboard News

Usher ruled the Billboard charts in 2004 with “Yeah” and “Burn,” other notable artists that saw success in 2004 include Alicia Keys with “If I Ain’t Got You,” Beyoncé with “Naughty Girl,” Jay-Z with “Off Your Shoulder,” and Maroon 5 with “This Love.”

Narrator:
It was the year of the plastics, the Razr phone and the last one. We take you back in today’s pop culture rewind presented by Wendy’s new Orange Dreamsicle Frosty. Usher, Ludacris and Lil Jon had everyone doing the A town stomp when “Yeah!” it was the No. 1 song on the Hot 100, but it wasn’t his only song in the top 10. “Burn” sat at No. 4 with other R&B artists like Alicia Keys claiming the eighth spot and Beyoncé’s “Naughty Girl: climbing to six, Bey’s future hubby also made the chart at No. 9. But it wasn’t just Hip-Hop and R&B killing it in April 2004. Maroon 5 made their mark with “This Love” at No. 5, which of these hits made your playlist in 2004 and which of them are you still jamming out to today?

22 Apr 2024

J Balvin Takes Billboard Behind the Scenes of His Coachella Set | Billboard News

J Balvin takes Billboard behind the scenes of his out of this world Coachella set. The Latin superstar shared his creative vision, a closer look at his alien space ship, bringing the aliens to life, getting Will Smith to make a guest appearance and more on this episode of Tour Stop.

J Balvin:
You know, finally we see that they do exist, you know it’s an official UFO. For the people that are gonna be on mushrooms, they’re gonna enjoy that s–t so bad. Gonna be the best mushrooms of their life.

Cassie Bartho:
Never a dull moment.

J Balvin:
Hey, what’s up? I’m J Balvin, and welcome to my tour stop. Let’s go!

We did Coachella for the first time: 2018 was with Beyoncé. Shout out, Beyoncé! Love you, queen. 2019 we did our show — it was great. And the story it’s once again is the same: I invest all my love, I invest everything, I had to give the people the best.

Ashley Evans:
We’ve done Coachella before with Jose …

J Balvin:
Listen.

Ashley Evans:
This is my time!

J Balvin:
I know it’s your time. But you know, I just want to let you know that this guys are from another planet. That’s his dad right there. He’s an alien.

Tetris Kelly:
Do you trust him with your set?

J Balvin:
1,000%. It probably wouldn’t be the same stage or show without him.

Ashley Evans:
Our concept for the show was to take people to outer space. We wanted to come up with a message that Jose is from another planet and he’s landed here at Coachella, and he’s got one message for the entire world and the entire festival. It’s like, ‘Let’s f–king party.’

J Balvin:
As a kid, I was have this feeling that aliens do exist in the universe … [it’s] too big. And we got to be too selfish to think that we just the only ones in this universe.

Watch the full video above!

22 Apr 2024

Billboard Hot 100 Top 10 Countdown For April 27th | Billboard News

Tetris Kelly:
Can fresh tracks from Sabrina Carpenter and Hozier hold off four former No. 1s from the top? This is the Billboard Hot 100 top 10 for the week dated April 27th.

SZA is back in the top 10 with “Saturn.”

“Sticks Season” rises a spot to No. 9.

Ariana stays put at No. 8.

“Espresso” debuts at No. 7.

Jack Harlow is strong at No. 6.

“Texas Hold ‘Em” is still at No. 5, while Teddy holds on to No. 4.

“Beautiful Things” stays put at No. 3, while Future, Metro (Boomin) and Kendrick fall to No. 2.

And grabbing his first Hot 100 No. 1 is Hozier with “Too Sweet.”

Watch the full video above!

22 Apr 2024

NYC’s The Nova Music Festival Exhibition: Photos From the Installation

The Nova Supernova Sukkot Gathering on Oct. 7 was supposed to be a fun, celebratory event of music and togetherness, but due to the devastating attack from Hamas militants, more than 300 people were killed and dozens taken hostage.

Thousands of Israeli and Palestinian people have been killed as the violence and conflict continues, despite pleas for a ceasefire in Gaza. To remember those who have lost their lives at the festival and beyond, the Nova Music Festival founders are teaming up with creative director Reut Feingold to bring a remembrance installation to New York City this spring.

The exhibition, titled The Nova Music Festival Exhibition: October 7th 06:29AM, first premiered in Tel Aviv for 10 weeks and will be open to the public in New York City starting on Sunday (April 21). The Nova founders include Omri Sassi, Yoni Feingold, Ofir Amir and Yagil Rimoni, and the United States partners for the exhibition include Scooter Braun, Joe Teplow and Josh Kadden.

Donations from the exhibition will go to the Nova Healing Journey, an initiative that supports mental health treatment for victims and families of the October 7 massacre. Tickets are available here.

See below for photos from the moving installation, which include remains salvaged from the festival grounds, including scorched cars, bullet-riddled bathroom stalls and personal belongings all left behind. The New York exhibit also includes video testimonies from survivors, volunteers and family members, as well as raw footage taken on Oct. 7 from both festival attendees and Hamas militants.

19 Apr 2024

Taylor Swift Surprises Swifties With Double Album, ATEEZ Talks Coachella, Peso Pluma & DJ Snake Drops New Single & More | Billboard News

It’s Friday, April 19th, and there’s been a ton of new singles dropped by some of your favorite artists! Taylor Swift announced “Fortnight,” featuring Post Malone, as her lead single prior to the release of her new double album, ‘The Tortured Poets Department.’ Nicki Minaj released her new single, “FTCU Remix” and after previewing “Teka” at Coachella, DJ Snake & Peso Pluma collab on a new single today. Let’s start off with Taylor dropping not one, but two albums today running a total of 31 songs spanning over 2 hours. ATEEZ talks about performing at Coachella. Dwayne Johnson stars in a new music video alongside country artist Chris Janson for his new song “Whatcha See Is Whatcha Get.” Afrobeat artists Bnxn & Ruger sit down with us to talk about their online “beef,” New Album ‘RnB’ and more! 

Tetris Kelly:

We’re breaking down Taylor’s new albums and all the hottest new music, talking to ATEEZ ahead of Coachella weekend two, and chatting with besties Chris Janson and Dwayne Johnson plus Bnxn and Ruger stopped by our studio. It’s Friday, April 19, and let’s get started with our Friday Music Guide. Taylor unleashed “The Tortured Poets Department’ and at 2am announced it was a double, anthology album. The first single of 31 songs is “Fortnight” featuring Post Malone. And our Taylor coverage doesn’t stop there. We’re breaking down ‘The Tortured Poets Department.’ After Taylor Swift gifted Swifties with her Post Malone first single and a surprise double album, the Internet exploded with theories of who and what it’s all about, with even Kim Kardashian catching a stray. We break down what they’re saying. After her breakup with six year boyfriend, Joe Alwyn, Swifties thought they’d hear the pop star sing all about it on the album as they think you do on songs like “So Long London” and “loml” which can mean love of my life but also d*mn girl. But is “loml” about Joe? The real d*mn girl, most of the songs seem to be about her dating stint with Matty Healy.  Swifties have decoded lyrics about typewriters and even concluded she was disappointed in fans and the media for making her turn on him. Also check the spelling on “thanK you aIMee” and Swifties are obsessed with this lyric and the

Watch to learn more!

19 Apr 2024

ATEEZ Talk About Being the First K-Pop Boy Band to Perform at Coachella & More | Billboard News

ATEEZ talk about being the first K-pop boy band to perform at Coachella. The boys discussed their preparation and confidence in their performance and how they were inspired by other artists’ sets they watched, including Ice Spice, Tyler, the Creator, Doja Cat and J Balvin.

Tetris Kelly:

Hey, it’s Tetris with Billboard News hanging out with ATEEZ. What’s up? I know it’s been a minute. Being the first ever K-pop boy group to play Coachella, how was it?

San:

It was really hard, but we’re gonna just show ourselves and that’s what we’ve been doing so far. And we are 100% confident about it. It was really cool. It was really cool. It was really an honor to us, and we will do more and more.

Hongjoong:

We just do our things continually. Many, many good artists and many good K-pop artists … go to huge festivals continually.

Tetris Kelly:

And then I heard you over there talking about Ice Spice — did you guys get to go see anybody else’s set while you were there?

Hongjoong:

Yeah, some of our members went to Ice Spice’s set, but it was crazy. We were really surprised with every moment.

San:

A few members watching Coachella at other artists’ stage and they were really crazy. J Balvin and Doja’s and The Rose, we really learned from them.

Hongjoong:

Yes, I think Tyler, the Creator and Doja and J Balvin in the three stages gave me big inspiration. So after that, I just make music after going back to the hotel.

Tetris Kelly:

Oh, I love it. You were right back to work! Yeah, that’s cool. Have you guys been on TikTok lately? Because you’re all over TikTok. 

Watch to learn more!

19 Apr 2024

Bnxn & Ruger on Their Online ‘Beef,’ New Album ‘RnB,’ Friendship With Burna Boy | Billboard News

Nigerian Afrobeats artists Bnxn and Ruger talk about what their online beef was all about, how they made up, their new joint album called ‘RnB,’ what inspired them to make this joint album, their connection to Afrobeats superstar Burna Boy, the global recognition and growth for the Afrobeats genre and more!

Bnxn
It’s more about the blend, the mix of both worlds, something like a very nice cocktail that just embodies our strengths. Hey, guys, I’m Bnxn..

Ruga
and I’m Ruga.

Bnxn and Ruga
And you’re watching Billboard News.

Tetris Kelly
I’m Tetris with Billboard News, and I’m sitting with two guys. I don’t think anybody would have thought we’d see you guys sitting next to each other. Bnxn and Ruger what’s up man? Everybody obviously knows you guys went through a little bit of, a little bit of beef that you had going on. So what do you guys think was the root of that? Why did fans kind of create that moment?

Ruger
You talk about this.

Bnxn
I don’t know, in Nigeria, that excessive stanship is real, if you like an artist … you almost go to every extent to prove it, in some sense. So even if it means fighting somebody else. … That was kind of like the primary reason because I think someone came at him. And then he responded to the person, the response had, you know, had me all in it. And I’m like…

Tetris Kelly
How did I get in this?

Bnxn
That 50 Cent meme, where it’s like ‘Me?’

Watch the full interview above!

18 Apr 2024

Taylor Swift Announces First Single ‘Fortnight’ With Post Malone, Breaks Spotify Record & More | Billboard News

It’s Thursday April 18th and this is a complete Taylor Swift takeover, ahead of the release of her new album ‘The Tortured Poets Department,’ the superstar announced the lead single “Fortnight,” breaks a record on Spotify for most pre-saves for her new album and we take you inside the ‘Tortured Poets Department’ Spotify library that happened in Los Angeles this week. Billboard explains Taylor Swift’s record-breaking Billboard chart history, Alek Olsen remains on top of the TikTok chart, we look back at the Isley Brothers’ going to No. 1 with “It’s Your Thing” and more!

Tetris Kelly:

Ahead of Taylor’s new album, she’s totally taking over. We bring you inside her exclusive pop up, explained some of her biggest achievements, run down the Tiktok Billboard Top 50 and take a look back at the Hot 100 in 1969.

Rania Aniftos:

Happy Thursday I’m Rania Aniftos for Billboard News. It’s April 18th and we’ve got a lot to get through so let’s jump into our lead stories.

Tetris Kelly:

With broken records, new challenges and major rebrands it’s a total Taylor takeover. Here are the details. Taylor Swift announced the first single off ‘The Tortured Poets Department’ will be “Fortnight” featuring Post Malone after already announcing the music videos coming Friday as well. And she also teased a “Fortnight” challenge set to kick off with the album tomorrow. With the announcement, Taylor gushed about Post Malone saying, “I’ve been such a huge fan of Post because of the writer he is, his musical experimentation and those melodies he creates that just stick in your head forever. I got to witness that magic come to life firsthand when we work together on “Fortnight.” Well fans are definitely excited for the album. Spotify posted on IG saying it became the most pre-saved album countdown page in the streamer’s history. And they aren’t the only ones that are going to blast the new album when it drops at midnight. iHeart Radio announced the rebrand for the release calling themselves iHeart Taylor,

Watch above to learn more!

18 Apr 2024

The Isley Brothers Hit No.1 In 1969 With ‘It’s Your Thing’ | Chart Rewind | Billboard News

On today’s episode of Billboard’s Chart Rewind, we look back at the Isley Brothers hitting No. 1 on the Best Selling Rhythm & Blues singles chart, now called Hot R&B / Hip-Hop songs with their song “It’s Your Thing.”

Alyssa Caverley
The Isley Brothers make it to the top on this week’s Chart Rewind. We head all the way back to 1969 the Isley Brothers hit the No.1 spot with their hit. It’s your thing on what was called the Best Selling Rhythm and Blues Singles Chart. Now called Hot R&B, Hip-Hop songs is spent four weeks at the top and was their first No. 1 on any Billboard chart. Over on the Hot 100, the song reached No. 2 and remains the group’s highest charting song