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08 Jun 2023

Killer Mike Talks Getting Personal on ‘Michael,’ Growth of Atlanta Rappers & More | Billboard News

Killer Mike stopped by Billboard News to talk about creating Michael — his most personal album yet — the start of his career, Atlanta rappers such as Latto and Lil Baby, his thoughts on Georgia politics and more!

Killer Mike:
Run the Jewels is the X-Men, right? It’s us as a group — me, El-P, Trackstar. We have this world that’s the uncanny X-Men. Well in my character, you get the superhero of Killer Mike. But there’s still this story that this 9-year-old kid is just a regular human kid.

Hey, what’s up? This is Killer Mike, and this is Billboard News.

Tetris Kelly:
It’s Tetris with Billboard News, hanging out with Grammy-winning rapper Killer Mike. Man, what’s up?

Killer Mike:
Man, trying to get back to more Grammys, man.

Tetris Kelly:
Hey, I like to hear that. I actually think this is the first time I’ve had another Georgia brother on the couch, man.

Killer Mike:
Red Clay brothers, man. Good to be here.

Tetris Kelly:
There we go. I’m happy to have you. We’re gonna get back to Georgia. But let’s jump into this music, right now.

Killer Mike:
Let’s do it, let’s do it!

Tetris Kelly:
So Michael, the album, obviously naming the album that, you know, it’s got to be really personal for you. So why did you decide to name it Michael?

Killer Mike:
It really is. If you look at the cover, it’s a bucktoothed little kid with a halo and some horns popping out. And that really is the spirit of that record. At 9 years old, when I did that school picture, I decided I was going to be a rapper. And there’s something about a kid’s imagination, once he says you can do it, it’s not impossible. But this record is about a 9-year-old Black boy, essentially, grows up in an all-Black enclave in Atlanta, Ga., which is a Black city, in the Deep South. And he blossoms and he and the city and this music all grew up together. And it’s that journey.

So there’s deeply personal records on there like “Shed Tears” that talks about, you know, as a man, you’re going to endure some hardships and pains. And the women who love you — whether it’s your mother, your wife, your lover, your daughters — people cheer for you and sometimes you just got to go in the bathroom and shake yourself up. Let a few tears flow and then go out and conquer the world.

I just wanted people to understand that the superhero Killer Mike created an image of his 9-year-old boy, it was really started by this 9-year-old boy named Michael.

Watch the video above to see what else Killer Mike shares about his new album, the rise of Atlana rappers and more.

08 Jun 2023

Jelly Roll, Ashley McBryde, Bailey Zimmerman & More Honored at Billboard Country Power Players Event

Billboard‘s 2023 Country Power Players were feted on Tuesday evening (June 6), during an awards ceremony held at Nashville’s Marathon Music Works.

Billboard cover star Jelly Roll was honored with the Breakthrough Award, which was presented by his fellow singer-songwriter Ernest. HARDY honored newcomer Bailey Zimmerman with the Billboard country Rookie of the Year honor, while Terri Clark awarded Ashley McBryde with the Groundbreaker Award.

“There’s a story that my daddy used to tell, ‘You can work harder than everybody, you can put in more hours than everybody, you can be more talented than everybody, you can be nicer than everybody, you can care more than everybody, but if a little luck don’t show up with you, you are screwed in this world.’ I can tell you that God blessed me to be lucky to have friends like ERNEST and HARDY, and Ashley [McBryde] and these people that have came through and helped me put out my first debut country album,” Jelly Roll said during the event.

“It means a lot to receive this, because it means betting on yourself is the right move,” McBryde said in accepting her Groundbreaker accolade.

Meanwhile, Sony Music Publishing Nashville CEO Rusty Gaston was honored with the Executive of the Year award by Melinda Newman, Executive Editor of Billboard, West Coast and Nashville.

“I love this community and what I love most about country music is that we are a community. We are a group of friends that get to work together to help each other succeed,” Gaston said in accepting his award.

The private event was followed by a concert headlined by Jelly Roll and featuring opener Nate Smith.

08 Jun 2023

Dua Lipa Wins Copyright Lawsuit, Blueface Arrested for Robbery & More | Billboard News

Artikal Sound System has moved to drop their copyright lawsuit against Dua Lipa; this comes days after a federal judge said its case had serious flaws. Blueface has been arrested in Vegas; the arrest comes less than a year after the rapper was taken into custody for attempted murder. Killer Mike stopped by Billboard News to talk through creating his most personal album yet, the start of his career, Atlanta rappers and his thoughts on Georgia politics. And more!

Tetris Kelly:
Dua Lipa wins in court, Blueface is set to appear in court, and we have Killer Mike in the studio. Plus, we jump back into our K-pop girl groups you should know and run back some of our favorite summer songs.

Tetris Kelly:
Happy Thursday y’all, it’s June 8th. I’m Tetris and this is Billboard News. Let’s jump into our top story. A court battle with Dua Lipa is over as a copyright claim against her is dropped.

Tetris Kelly:
Days after a federal judge said its case had serious flaws, a band called Artikal Sound System has moved to drop the lawsuit against the pop star entirely after they claimed the singer’s massive hit ‘Levitating’ borrowed its hood from the Florida reggae band’s 2017 track ‘Live Your Life.’

Tetris Kelly:
A US district judge ruled strongly for Lipa, saying that there was no sign that anyone involved in creating ‘Levitating’ had access to the earlier song. So in a filing on June 7, attorneys for both Artikal Sound System and Lipa filed a joint motion asking the judge to permanently dismiss the case. Now Dua Lipa can focus on Barbie, and we can’t wait.

Watch the full video above!

07 Jun 2023

Billboard Counts Down the Best Revenge Songs About an Ex | Billboard News

Billboard counts down the top revenge songs about an ex who did you wrong!

Tetris Kelly
EVERYBODY’S BEEN THROUGH A BREAKUP AND NOTHING CAN QUITE GET YOU OVER AN EX LIKE THE PERFECT PLAYLIST.

Tetris Kelly
THAT’S WHY WE’RE RUNNING DOWN BILLBOARD’S TOP REVENGE SONGS.

Tetris Kelly
EVERYBODY WAS TALKING ABOUT SHAKIRA’S SPLIT FROM SOCCER STAR GERARD PIQUE.

Tetris Kelly
BUT WHEN SHE JOINED BIZARRAP ‘SESSIONS 53’…

Tetris Kelly
THE ONLY DISCUSSION WAS HOW SHE ATE HIM ALIVE.

Tetris Kelly
BEYONCÉ’S “LEMONADE” ALBUM WAS ONE OF HER MOST PERSONAL YET AND WITH RUMORS OF INFIDELITY, BEYONCÉ’S “SORRY” MADE US HOPE JAY-Z WAS SOMEWHERE HIDING.

Tetris Kelly
ANGER AFTER A BREAKUP CAN CAUSE A LOT OF THINGS. ON JAZMINE SULLIVAN’S LIST? VANDALISM.

Tetris Kelly
BUT I’M SURE VANDALISM IS PREFERED TO DEATH. SZA’S BREAKUP ANTHEM CAUSES FOR A TRAGIC ENDING.

Tetris Kelly
AND TOPPING OUR LIST IS A CLASSIC FROM CARRIE UNDERWOOD THAT MAKES THAT CHEATING EX THINK TWICE BEFORE HE MAKES THAT MISTAKE AGAIN.

Tetris Kelly
GOT MORE TO GET OF YOUR CHEST? FIND THE FULL LIST AT BILLBOARD.COM.

07 Jun 2023

The Music of ‘Yellowstone’ Panel | Billboard Country Live

Andrea Von Foerster, Brian Schwartz, Dani Rose of Honey County, Hayes Carll, and Sabrina del Priore sat down with the SVP of Music & Talent at Viacom/CMT, Leslie Fram, to discuss the use of music in Paramount’s ‘Yellowstone’ at the 2023 Billboard Country Live.

07 Jun 2023

Maren Morris Discusses Drag Bans & Transphobia With Drag Stars

Country star Maren Morris moderates a drag roundtable with queens Symone, Sasha Colby and Eureka O’Hara and drag king Landon Cider to discuss the recent wave of bills targeting drag performers and trans people.

Maren Morris:
Hi Billboard I’m Maren Morris. What better way to celebrate Pride month than to talk to the most incredible artists in drag. I am on hallowed ground right now being here with you guys. It’s incredible.

Symone:
Thank you for being here.

Maren Morris:
We just finished our cover shoot for Billboard’s Pride issue. I want to ask each of you to introduce yourself with your name, your pronouns and how you would describe your drag? Symone, do you want to kick it off?

Symone:
I would. Hello there. My name is Symone. She, hers, hers is in the drag. And I would describe my drag as authentic, unapologetic, and everything.

Landon Cider:
My name is Landon Cider and I am the winner of season three of ‘The Boulet Brothers Dragula,’ my pronouns in drag are he, him, his. Outsider of drag she, her, hers and I would describe my drag as glamdrogynous.

Maren Morris:
Newly crowned queen.

Sasha Colby:
I’m Sasha Colby, winner of season 15 of ‘RuPaul’s Drag Race’ and my pronouns are she, her, goddess, I would call my type of drag and NC-17.

Maren Morris:
Eureka.

Eureka O’Hara:
Okay, so my name is Eureka O’Hara. My pronouns are she/her, they/them and my type of drag is big and loud ever-growing.

Watch the full video above.

06 Jun 2023

Taylor Swift’s ‘Speak Now’ Track List, Nicki Minaj’s New Album Release Date, BTS’ ‘Take Two’ Gets to No. 1 & More | Billboard News

Taylor Swift & Matt Healy have reportedly split and the pop star reveals the track list for her upcoming ‘Speak Now (Taylor’s Version)’ album, Nicki Minaj gives a release date for her first album in five years, BTS’ “Take Two” goes to No. 1 on the Hot Trending Songs chart, what you should know about K-pop girl group NewJeans & more.

Tetris Kelly:
Taylor Swift and Matty Healy break up as she readies her new album. And so does Nicki Minaj. BTS is trending with a new track. We tell you a K-pop girl group you need to know about. And five things you didn’t know about Jelly Roll. It’s Tuesday, June 6th, and this is Billboard News. Taylor Swift and Matty Healy have reportedly called their reported relationship quits and we know exactly what she’s speaking now. After splitting from longtime boyfriend Joe Alwyn, Taylor was linked to The 1975 frontman Matty Healy. This caused an uproar from Swifties and fans stemming from information like Matty being caught watching racist pornography and laughing at racial slurs about Ice Spice. Now reports are saying Taylor is single, with People source saying, “She had fun with him, but it was always casual” and an ET source adding, “They realize they’re not really compatible with each other.” Matty has now been seen kissing security guards on tour again and drinking from a flask. All this as Taylor reveals the track list for ‘Speak Now (Taylor’s Version)’ out on July 7th. The additional tracks include songs with Hayley Williams from Paramore and Fall Out Boy — and Taylor isn’t the only massive star with an album to look forward to.

Watch the full video above!

06 Jun 2023

Good 4 Us: Olivia Rodrigo Teases Post-‘Sour’ Era, But What Can We Expect?

Olivia Rodrigo had one of the splashiest arrivals in recent pop history, with her eight-week Billboard Hot 100 chart-topper “Drivers License” and her five-week Billboard 200 No. 1 album Sour culminating in her best new artist win at the 2022 Grammys. We haven’t heard any new music from Rodrigo since she released her blockbuster debut album back in spring 2021 — but that might be about to change.

Last week, fans spotted a countdown clock on Rodrigo’s website ticking down to June 30 — but what is coming at the end of the month? On the new Billboard Pop Shop Podcast, we discuss the possibilities (Song? Album? Tour?) as well as all the pressure on the young star to recapture the magic of her first project.

Also on the show, we’ve got chart news on how Morgan Wallen’s One Thing at a Time surrenders the No. 1 spot on the Billboard 200 after 12 weeks in a row as a familiar face returns to the top of the list: Taylor Swift, whose former No. 1 Midnights jumps back to No. 1 for a sixth nonconsecutive week. Plus, Swift’s latest single, the Midnights track “Karma” — freshly remixed with new featured guest Ice Spice — surges up the Hot 100, jumping 27-2, a new peak.

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.)

06 Jun 2023

Jelly Roll Reveals 5 Things You Don’t Know About Him | Billboard Cover

Jelly Roll reveals five things you didn’t know about him.

Jelly Roll
What’s up, y’all? This is Jelly Roll. Here are five things you don’t know about me.

No. 1: I used to work at a radio station as an intern when I got out of jail across the street of 106.7, The Blaze. Taz Daddy was the afternoon MC. I was the worst intern in the history of the company and he tells that story every time we’re around each other.

No. 2: Y’all are gonna make fun of me — I can see in the comments. I played football, basketball and soccer. When I was in middle school, I was absolutely mediocre at all three of them.

No. 3: When I was in elementary school, I would walk to school and my dog would walk me to school without a leash and walk itself back. That’s a true fact.

No. 4: I went to community college when I first got out of jail in the state of Tennessee — you have options when you’re on probation or parole. You can either get a job or be a student. I knew I wasn’t going to work a job, so I went and enrolled at Ball State Community College and I’m like, a couple hours away from having one of them, like, associate degrees.

No. 5: My guilty pleasure is golf. I love golf because people drink early in the morning. I, too, like things that involve drinking early in the morning when that’s possible. It’s like a little sanctuary, man. It’s awesome.

Those are five things you probably didn’t know about me.

05 Jun 2023

Troye Sivan Talks About Working With Lily-Rose Depp & Jennie on HBO’s ‘The Idol,’ New Music & More | Billboard News

Troye Sivan talks about working with Lily-Rose Depp and Jennie from Blackpink on HBO’s ‘The Idol,’ his upcoming new music, and more!

Tetris Kelly:
HBO’s exciting new show ‘The Idol’ has arrived featuring The Weekend, Lily-Rose Depp, Jennie of Blackpink, Troye Sivan and more. And I’m excited to have Troye with me on the show today. Hey, Troye!

Troye Sivan:
Hi, Tetris.

Tetris Kelly:
Good to see you again, man.

Troye Sivan:
Good to see you too. What’s going on?

Tetris Kelly:
Well, I am loving this show and your character is a role. A lot of us pop culture aficionados wish we had and a pop star’s life.

Troye Sivan:
Like, when was the last truly f—ing nasty, nasty, bad pop girl?

Tetris Kelly:
How was it to live our dream, man?

Troye Sivan:
I mean, it was really fun. I know a few creative directors, I’ve dated a few. So I know them really well. I am also fully that person. I catch myself now. Like, you know, on the press tour, for example, Lily’s just like looking unbelievable at all times, of course. And so I’m like, you know, like the gay best friend. It’s like taking a million pictures of her all the time. I think that is just like a very natural role for me to slip into.

Watch the full video above!