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10 Aug 2023

Billboard’s Top 5 Songs of the Summer 2019 | Billboard News

Billboard looks back and counts down the top five songs that ruled the summer of 2019.

Rania Aniftos:
It’s the last year of the decade, and the summer of 2019 brought some new faces to the Hot 100 songs of the summer. Let’s dive in.

It was her first hit on the Billboard Hot 100, and it’s actually a single from two years earlier. Coming in at No. 5 on the Hot 100 summer songs is Lizzo’s “Truth Hurts.”

The next song features a collaboration with two of the world’s biggest pop stars: King of collabs Justin Bieber teamed up with British singer-songwriter Ed Sheeran for their hit “I Don’t Care,” which comes in at No. 4.

Our third biggest song of the summer is an electronic R&B hit by Khalid. His huge single “Talk” comes in next.

The song that had us all feeling powerful against the “Bad Guy” in our life … Billie Eilish makes it to the No. 2 spot with her massive hit “Bad Guy.”

Our top song of the summer in 2019 was important for a few reasons: It shot Lil Nas X into the spotlight and became the longest-running No. 1 Hot 100 song in history. Collaborating with country star Billy Ray Cyrus, “Old Town Road” comes in at No. 1.

Next week, we enter a brand new decade with 2020’s top songs of the summer!

Watch the full video above!

09 Aug 2023

Portraits From Billboard’s R&B Hip-Hop Live

Billboard honored the top power players across hip-hop and R&B on Tuesday (Aug. 8) and celebrated 50 historic years of hip-hop at the 2023 R&B/Hip-Hop Power Players Event and R&B Hip-Hop Live.

Presented in partnership with VIBE, Billboard R&B Hip-Hop Live took place at The Novo in downtown Los Angeles and featured high energy performances by headliner Metro Boomin and opening acts Coi Leray and Armani White.

Leray took the stage with a jam-packed set that included hits like “B—- Girl,” “Baby Don’t Hurt Me,” “Bops,” “Get Loud,” “Make My Day” and, of course, “Players,” which became her first top 10 entry on the Billboard Hot 100 when it peaked at No. 9 on the tally in April.

White performed tracks like “SILVER TOOTH,” “Onederful” and “Thanksgiving,” as well as his hit single “BILLIE EILISH.”

When Metro Boomin took the stage, he commanded the audience’s attention with tracks including “10 Freaky Girls,” “Niagara Falls (Foot or 2),” “Creepin’,” “Umbrella,” “Minute,” “No Complaints” as well as Spider-Verse cuts including “Calling” and “Self Love.”

Metro also honored his production work by performing “Father Stretch My Hands Pt. 1” (a cut off Kanye West’s Life of Pablo), Post Malone’s “Congratulations” with Quavo and “Heartless” by The Weeknd.

In honor of the exciting R&B Hip-Hop Live event, see below for official portraits from the evening.

09 Aug 2023

Tory Lanez Sentenced, What You Missed at R&B Hip-Hop Power Players & More | Billboard News

Tory Lanez has been sentenced to 10 years in prison after he was convicted of shooting Megan Thee Stallion in 2020. Billboard’s R&B Hip-Hop Power Players & Live event took place Tuesday night and we’re giving you an exclusive look at everything you may have missed. Your favorite celebs were showing off their fire ‘fits at Billboard’s R&B Hip-Hop Power Players & Live event. And more!

Tetris Kelly:
Tory Lanez is sentenced for shooting Megan Thee Stallion. Ice Spice, Offset and Weezy take over our R&B Hip-Hop Power Players event in LA. Tim McGraw talks his love life with his wife, and Michelle Buteau teaches us hometown slang.

Happy Hump Day, August 9th, and welcome to Billboard News!

Last night we had a blast at our R&B Hip-Hop Live event so let me take you there with us to show you what you missed. Lil Wayne, Nas and Ice Spice get honored and we saw epic performances from Metro Boomin, Coi Leray and Armani White. It’s Tetris here at Billboard’s Power Players R&B/Hip-Hop Live. It’s our event so we’re giving you all the action. The industry’s best packed inside The Novo in LA to see us honor execs like Larry Jackson.

Larry Jackson:
“This award is for the culture that we love, that we represent.”

Tetris Kelly:
And artists like our Rookie of the Year, Ice Spice.

Ice Spice:
“Thank you everybody here at Billboard and to my fans, thank you to my fans. Period!”

Tetris Kelly:
And Hip-Hop Hall of Fame Inductees, Nas…

Nas:
“50 years of hip-hop. Saluting some of the pioneers who inspired me.”

Tetris Kelly:
And Weezy himself.

Lil Wayne:
“I ain’t stopping. They told me when I could leave, I’ll be going back to the studio.”

Tetris Kelly:
But the night wasn’t all speeches, it was time to party! Coi Leray showed us “girls is players too.” Armani White delivered “Billie Eilish.”

Watch the full video above!

09 Aug 2023

Michelle Buteau Reveals Her Favorite New Jersey Slang | Billboard

Michelle Buteau reveals her favorite New Jersey slang to Billboard News.

Michelle Buteau:
Hey, everyone! I’m Michelle Buteau, and this is my hometown slang.

When I was growing up, every time you said something that was, like, sarcastic or not true, you just follow that sentence with “sike.” I mean, why did I do that? It was just, like, at a 10 at all times. I was giving a 10 — I should be serving a 6. Like, that’s not OK. Sike! It was fine. See what I did there? Nobody cares.

“Mad,” “mad” a lot like, “Oh, that food was mad good.” Or “Ooh, that line was mad long.” Like, people in Jersey was so mad, we actually have to, like, use it for good things at some point.

Oh my God. And when you really like somebody, you’d be like, “Oh, yeah, like ’em a lot. I was sweatin’ them.” What? “I was sweatin’ them”?! “Ooh, that movie. I was sweatin’ that movie so hard. I was waiting in that line mad long. SIKE! I bought my tickets in advance.”

Producer:
Perfect.

Michelle Buteau:
I know.

08 Aug 2023

Eras Tour, Take 2: What We Noticed Seeing Taylor Swift’s Epic Concert More Than Once

Taylor Swift goes back to December all the time, and the Billboard Pop Shop Podcast crew goes back to The Eras Tour all the time — or at least twice.

On the latest episode, Katie & Keith talk all about hitting SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, Calif., for Night 4 of Swift’s epic Eras Tour, just under five months after the Pop Shop duo took a field trip to Las Vegas’ Allegiant Stadium for the second weekend of the trek back in March.

So what did we notice this time around versus the Sin City show? And what other concert tours have Katie & Keith felt compelled to attend more than once? Find all those answers and more in this week’s episode.

Also on the show, we’ve got chart news on how Travis Scott blasts in at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 chart with his long-awaited Utopia album, how Dua Lipa hits the top 10 on the Billboard Hot 100 songs chart with her Barbie song “Dance the Night,” how Morgan Wallen is back at No. 1 on the Hot 100 with “Last Night” for a staggering 15th total week at No. 1, and how the legendary Joni Mitchell returns to Billboard’s charts with her new live album Joni Mitchell at Newport.

The Billboard Pop Shop Podcast is your one-stop shop for all things pop on Billboard‘s weekly charts. You can always count on a lively discussion about the latest pop news, fun chart stats and stories, new music, and guest interviews with music stars and folks from the world of pop. Casual pop fans and chart junkies can hear Billboard‘s executive digital director, West Coast, Katie Atkinson and Billboard’s managing director, charts and data operations, Keith Caulfield every week on the podcast, which can be streamed on Billboard.com or downloaded in Apple Podcasts or your favorite podcast provider. (Click here to listen to the previous edition of the show on Billboard.com.)

08 Aug 2023

Shakira at Latin Music Week, V’s Solo Album, SB19’s A’TIN Win Fan Army Face-Off & More | Billboard News

Shakira will be a part of an exclusive superstar Q&A that will be moderated by Billboard’s Chief Content Officer for Latin/Español, Leila Cobo. BTS’ V announced that his debut solo album ‘Layover’ will be dropping on September 8th. The 2023 Billboard Fan Army Face-Off has ended, and we have a winner! After a final battle between the CARATs and A’TIN, one came out the victor. And more!

Tetris Kelly:
V is coming. We have a winner of Fan Army Face-Off. We show you how XG and others took over Head in the Clouds LA. And we announce the star power we are bringing into Latin Music Week.

What’s better than tacos on a Tuesday? Billboard News, duh! It’s August 8th and before you run out for margaritas, let’s jump into our first story.

Does Army ever rest? V is coming! The BTS superstar announced his solo album is around the corner and we have all the details. V’s “best moment” really is “yet to come.” He’s the latest BTS member to release a solo album as they all prepare for military service, and you won’t have to wait long. Big Hit announced his album is titled ‘Layover’ and is expected in only a month, on September 8th. Cue the screaming! We also got the track list, which features six tracks, including “Slow Dancing,””Rainy Days,” “Blue,” and “Love Me Again.” Army has recently shown love to all seven members and two have hit No. 1 on the Hot 100: Jung Kook with “Seven” and Jimin with “Like Crazy.”

Watch the full video above!

04 Aug 2023

What to Expect From HITC LA, New Music From: Ciara & Chris Brown, Halle Bailey & More | Billboard News

It’s Friday and there is a ton of new music drops this week! Ciara and Chris Brown collaborated on their new track “How We Roll,” Halle Bailey released her first ever solo track “Angel,” Grupo Frontera’s debut album ‘El Comienzo’ is here & more. Nas graces the cover of Billboard. In the finals of Billboard’s Fan Army Face-Off, SB19’s A’TIN are going head-to-head against SEVENTEEN’S CARATs. And more!

Get $10 OFF tickets to Billboard Live R&B/Hip-Hop with Metro Boomin, Coi Leray and Armani White
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Tetris Kelly:
New music from Doja Cat and more. Nas graces the cover of Billboard. Fan Army Face-Off has its biggest battle. We tell you about the weekend’s big festival and we also take you to Taylor and some of the hottest events in the country.

Hey, y’all, this is Billboard News. I’m Tetris Kelly and it’s Friday, August 4th. So let’s kick things off with your Friday Music Guide.

Have you ever wanted to dance more? Ciara grabs Chris Brown for “How We Roll.”

Ciara:
On this record, “How We Roll” it is a great example is that feel good r&b/dance, you know, rhythmic, just like melodic energy that you can play at a house party, and we set the house party off, right. And then of course, Breezy, and I come in together. This has been something that we wanted to do for a long time. It was, I would say, an artist’s dream come true for the both of us. And our fans have told us that they wanted us for a long time so we’re like, “we got to make this happen in the moment.” And this song couldn’t be any better.

Watch the full video above!

03 Aug 2023

Lil Tjay Opens Up About Getting Shot, Working With YoungBoy Never Broke Again, Ice Spice & More | Billboard News

Lil Tjay opens up about the aftermath from the shooting a year ago, collaborating and working with YoungBoy Never Broke AGain and Ice Spice, explains his post about the charts and Gunna, his upcoming Beat the Odds tour and more!

Catrise Johnson:
It’s been it’s been off the charts, literally. You performed with Ice Spice for the first time — your Bronx sister — at New York Hot 97 Summer Jam. What was that feeling like? What was it like performing with her knowing you have that connection with her?

Lil Tjay:
It’s crazy because I was supposed to have performed and I missed my set. I was late for me. I was like, ‘Yo Ice, bring me out.’ We spoke about it like before that, and I wasn’t sure. And I winded up just doing it. And it was turnt! I ain’t gonna lie, that was lit. It was kinda like one of them full circle moments, you know, being that like, I met Ice, like, before, she was like, you know who she is today. And see the crowd go crazy for her for the first time in person was lit.

Watch the full video above!

03 Aug 2023

NewJean’s EP Debuts at No. 1, Lizzo Responds to Sexual Harassment Lawsuit & More | Billboard News

Lizzo responds to the sexual harassment lawsuit brought on by three of her dancers. The singer calls them “false allegations” and “sensationalized stories.” The microphone Cardi B threw at a fan is being auctioned for charity. Taylor Swift announced new Era Tour dates in the U.S. and Canada for 2024. NewJeans’s EP ‘Get Up’ debuts at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 this week and the ‘Barbie’ soundtrack lands at No. 2. And more!

Tetris Kelly:
Lizzo reacts to allegations. Cardi’s mic drop hits eBay and Taylor extends her tour. Lil Tjay stops by our studio. Post Malone talks fatherhood and puffy nipples. NewJeans makes some major moves on our charts. And we run down the top songs of the summer 2018.

I’m Tetris! Welcome back to Billboard News. It’s Thursday, August 3rd and we’ve got an update on some of this week’s top stories.

Lizzo is speaking up about those banana allegations, Cardi B’s mic is a piece of history and Taylor Swift is coming back to the US. Boy, do we have some updates for you!

After dancers are suing Lizzo for sexual harassment, alleging she fat-shamed them and had them bite bananas from sex workers’ vaginas, she’s finally speaking out. She posted “These are as unbelievable as they sound and too outrageous not to be addressed. These sensationalized stories are coming from former employees who have already publicly admitted that they were told their behavior on tour was inappropriate and unprofessional.”

Lizzo:
But I’m trying to go to the show where you eat the banana out of the p*ssy. Which one is that?

Host:
That’s the Banana Bar.

Lizzo:
That’s the Banana Bar? And they have a banana in the c**chie?

Host:
And ping pong balls.

Lizzo:
And you have to go?

Host:
Yes.

Lizzo:
That’s what I want to do.

Tetris Kelly:
She continues to say, “I take my music and performances seriously because at the end of the day I only want to put out the best art that represents me and my fans… I know what it feels like to be body shamed on a daily basis and would absolutely never criticize or terminate an employee because of their weight.”

Watch the full video above!

02 Aug 2023

Lizzo’s Sexual Harassment Lawsuit, Dua Lipa Sued Again Over “Levitating” & More | Billboard News

Lil Wayne talks about inspiring the next generation of rappers, how he discovers new talent with Young Money records, ‘Carter VI” and more on the cover of Billboard. Lizzo is facing a lawsuit from three tour dancers who claim that they were subjected to sexual harassment and a hostile work environment. Dua Lipa and Warner Music Group are facing another copyright lawsuit over “Levitating.” And more.

Tetris Kelly:
Did Beyonce shade Lizzo as she’s getting sued? Hip-hop legend Lil Wayne is on our cover. Dua Lipa is “Levitating” back to court, as Ludacris is generous and Nate Smith teaches us hometown slang.

I’m Tetris, it’s Billboard News and it’s Wednesday, August 2nd. This show is juicy and sweet so let’s start with the artists behind “Lollipop,” it’s Lil Wayne.

Gail Mitchell:
What’s been your secret to longevity?

Lil Wayne:
Me? I don’t have a secret. I just work and I never stop. I don’t do nothing but my music. In my mind, every single time I say the word “work”, I ask God to forgive me because I know this has never been a job. It’s just a dream come true so that’s why I’ve never stopped.

Gail Mitchell:
I’m excited by the growing ranks of female rappers right now. I wanted to get your thoughts on that. I started a Billboard in 99′ and it was, you know, you had your Roxanne Shanté, (Lil’) Kim’s, and Queen’s (Latifah) and MC Lyte and stuff, and then there’s nothing and then Nicki pops up. Why is this happening, now? What’s your thoughts on that?

Lil Wayne:
I think that it just wasn’t- it wasn’t interesting to women. You know, it wasn’t as interesting, you know, as the way Nicki and Meg and others have. It looks like, you know, it’s awesome. I don’t think it was just, you know, I don’t think they viewed it as something that they wanted to do and actually make a living from it.

Gail Mitchell:
Right and it seems maybe the industry is a little more open-minded.

Lil Wayne:
Oh, definitely. Now? Oh, what? Yeah, definitely.

Watch the full video above!