Music News
Page: 110
Ye‘s wife, Bianca Censori, is apparently worried about the rapper, who’s been spewing out more hate-filled and inappropriate posts on X over the weekend — many of which have continued to express antisemitic views.
“Lord, I lift up my husband to You with love & concern,” she wrote on X late Saturday night (Feb. 8). “Soften his heart, guide his words, and fill him with wisdom and kindness. Protect him from trouble & lead him toward understanding & respect for all people. Despite our differences, I love him unconditionally. Strengthen our bond & help me be a source of patience & encouragement. I trust in Your grace to work in his heart. God Bless Israel and All The Good Jewish Pple. Amen.”
“Well, this confirms it’s him writing everything,” a follower commented on the statement. Censori replied with a sad face emoji.
Trending on Billboard
On Feb. 7, Censori posted another message that appeared to address Ye: “I respect that we may see things differently, but I personally cannot align with those antisemitic views. I believe in kindness and inclusivity for all people. I got you even in your worst moments.”
Ye’s most recent stream of thoughts on X have included praise of Hitler; a T-shirt design with a swastika, which he called his “greatest performance art piece thus far”; clips of his favorite pornographic videos, which autoplay and are uncensored on his feed; and posts about how “they are making an example out of Puff.” (He’s even selling a shirt with the name Sean John, in reference to Sean “Diddy” Combs.)
He’d previously posted in support of Diddy, who is currently in jail awaiting trial on sex trafficking charges.
Censori and Ye had a controversial walk on the red carpet at the Grammys on Feb. 2. The model wore an extremely sheer, essentially transparent, dress that Ye described as a “Custom Couture Grammy dress for the most beautiful woman ever My love my best friend My wife” in an Instagram post the night of the awards show.
Days later, Ye added they’d “beat” the Grammys, and that “my wife is the most Googled person on the planet called Earth.” In another post, he said he’s “so lucky” to have a wife like Censori wearing an “invisible dress.”
“My wife’s first red carpet opened a whole new world. I keep staring at this photo like I was staring in admiration that night Thinking wow I am so lucky to have a wife that is so smart talented brave and hot,” Ye wrote on Feb. 6, alongside a photo of the transparent garment. “She took a break from shooting her first film to make a movie in real life We Tailored that invisible dress 6 times And just like magic poof we disappeared Thank you to all the outlets who recognized us and gave us back the energy we put in.”
Meanwhile, Censori posted the hashtag #PowerCouple and wrote on her X account, “When love shakes the internet, you know it’s real.”
After a triumphant Grammys night on Feb. 2 during which he clinched five awards — including the coveted record and song of the year for “Not Like Us” — hip-hop powerhouse Kendrick Lamar made his way to the Caesars Superdome in New Orleans on Sunday (Feb. 9) to bask in his well-deserved victory lap at the Super Bowl 2025 Halftime Show.
As the Philadelphia Eagles unexpectedly surged ahead of the Kansas City Chiefs with a resounding 24-0 halftime lead, the stage was set for Lamar to electrify. With a birds-eye view of the stage, a massive tic-tac-toe board awaited viewers as they were greeted by Uncle Sam — well, Samuel L. Jackson. Dressed in a patriotic ensemble, the actor welcomed fans to “The Great American Game.”
Lamar began his lyrical exhibition by rapping to “Bodies” on top of a GNX. A frenetic Lamar is swarmed by an army of dancers dressed in red and white before segueing into his Billboard Hot 100 chart-topper “Squabble Up.” Flanked by his dancers, Lamar’s surgical precision and breath control remained on par until he reached the hook and is interrupted by Jackson. “No, no, no. Too loud, too reckless, too ghetto,” declared Jackson. “Mr. Lamar, do you really know how to play the game? Then tighten up.”
Trending on Billboard
Lamar took heed of Jackson’s words of wisdom and entered a quick medley of 2015’s DAMN, during which he dishes out “Humble” and “DNA.” Lamar continued to blitz fans with surprises, mainly when he performed “Euphoria,” his searing diss track against Drake, which also doubles as a subtle sign that maybe he’d detonate “Not Like Us.” Shortly after, Lamar veered to a pseudo-street corner, where he rapped “Man in the Garden” in front of his homies to the disdain of Jackson.
“I see you brought your homeboys with you,” sneered the actor. “The old culture cheat code. Scorekeeper, deduct one life.”
Lamar kept the GNX buzz intact as the stage shapeshifted again, this time into the form of an X, where he performed “peekaboo.” “Ladies, I wanna make a move,” Lamar rapped to his female dancers before tantalizing them with “their favorite song.” The instrumental for “Not Like Us” hummed through the speakers. Instead of succumbing to the pressure, Lamar slowed things down and brought out his one-time TDE compatriot SZA for “Luther” and “All the Stars.”
“That’s what I’m talking about. That’s what America wants,” cheered Jackson. You’re almost there. Don’t mess this up.”
Jackson’s cautionary warning came on the heels of “Not Like Us,” as Lamar gave an impromptu freestyle, positioning his reasoning for ultimately performing the song. “You really ’bout to do it?/ Yeah, they tried to fake the game, but you can’t fake influence,” said Lamar before pressing go on “Not Like Us.” With the cameras focused on Lamar’s face, he didn’t lose eye contact and delivered the controversial verse with fury, name-dropping Drake and having the crowd rap back the now popular “a minor” line with fervor.
After “Not Like Us,” Lamar seamlessly pivoted to “TV Off,” with the song’s producer, Mustard, alongside him. The now-classic yell of “Mustard” reverberated through Caesars Superdome, allowing the rapper to cap off a monumental set with a lit-up sign reading “Game Over” set up in the crowd, punctuating his efforts.
The impact of Lamar’s performance is indisputable, leaving hip-hop and pop culture awestruck once again.
The world of SZA‘s SOS just keeps getting bigger, with the hitmaker adding four new tracks to her sophomore album’s Lana deluxe edition Sunday (Feb. 9) — just before her Super Bowl Halftime Show performance with Kendrick Lamar. Tacked onto disc 1 of SOS Deluxe: Lana, the four new songs include “Joni” — a collaboration […]
Taylor Swift showed up to the 2025 Super Bowl and seemingly faced a rude reaction from the crowd.
The pop star arrived at New Orleans’ Superdome on Sunday (Feb. 9) in a white blazer over a tank and denim shorts, and white over-the-knee boots. She held a small red handbag serving as a pop of “Chiefs” red, in support of the Kansas City team and Travis Kelce. By her side was her friend Ice Spice, making it the second year for the rapper to attend the big game with Swift.
While the two were seated at the game, which was broadcast on Fox, the Jumbotron camera panned toward Swift and other celebrities seen at the stadium. When the shot stopped on Swift, an apparent wave of “boos” could be heard — perhaps from Eagles supporters.
Swift’s reaction: a side eye, and a slight wince and laugh. In other words, she knew to shake it off. See it here.
Trending on Billboard
Plenty of fans had her back, including tennis pro Serena Williams, who wrote on X, “I love you @taylorswift13 dont listen to those booo!!”
Swift’s attendance at the Super Bowl for the second year in a row was expected, as she’s dating Kelce, tight end for the Chiefs. This year’s game has the Kansas City Chiefs taking on the Philadelphia Eagles.
Though Kelce is the NFL star, the football player says he looks up to Swift’s athleticism. “Her work ethic, what I saw on that tour last year, was pretty remarkable,” he said at a pre-Super Bowl press conference. “It was the dancers, the band, the singers, it was everybody involved, and it was an absolute machine. It was something I could admire watching and take a lot of notes from.”
The night before the Super Bowl, Swift was spotted in New Orleans rocking a Penny Lane-style coat while going out to dinner with Danielle and Alana Haim, as well as Kylie Kelce. Swift’s parents were also seen at the restaurant. The Haim sisters were also seen at the game Sunday.
Swift’s The Tortured Poets Department finished 2024 as the most popular album of the year in the U.S., according to music data tracking company Luminate. Her record-setting Eras Tour, which wrapped in December, grossed more than $2 billion and sold over 10 million tickets.
See Swift’s arrival to the Chiefs-Eagles game with Ice Spice in a clip courtesy of the NFL below.
The Dunkin’ Super Bowl commercial starring Ben Affleck that aired during the game on Sunday (Feb. 9) is a 60-second cut, but there’s much more to see: The hilarious 7-minute version titled DunKings 2: The Movie expands on the battle of the bands story. Joining Ben is his brother Casey, plus Jeremy Strong, Bill Belichick […]
R&B star Ledisi performed on one of the biggest stages in her Grammy-winning career with a compelling live rendition of “Lift Every Voice and Sing” during the pre-game festivities for Super Bowl LIX in New Orleans. The occasion marked the fifth time that the song — also known as the Black national anthem — has been performed at the Super Bowl.
Dressed in a white pantsuit complemented by a floor-length long-sleeved coat, Ledisi was accompanied by a yellow-robed choir of 121 students from schools in the greater New Orleans area. Starting off slow and measured, the singer-songwriter-actress built up to a soaring crescendo that ended in her full-bodied voice sustaining the note on the last word in the song’s final verse: “Let us march on till victory is won.”
Earning hearty applause, her moving performance underscored the song’s message of hope, faith, resilience and unity amid the recent Los Angeles wildfires, last month’s act of terrorism on Bourbon Street in New Orleans and current challenges to such initiatives as DEI.
Trending on Billboard
While not a household name for some, New Orleans native Ledisi is heralded among fans for her potent vocals and colorful riffs integrated within a spirited fusion of R&B, soul, gospel and jazz. She counts legendary artist and civil rights activist Nina Simone as one of her major influences. Ledisi Sings Nina, released in 2021, was nominated for a Grammy for best traditional pop vocal album and an NAACP Image Award for outstanding jazz vocal album. Ledisi also portrayed another civil rights advocate, gospel singer Mahalia Jackson, in two projects: the 2022 biopic Remember Me: The Mahalia Jackson Story and in 2014’s Ava DuVernay-directed film Selma.
Ledisi recently released a new single “Love You Too.” A 2021 Grammy winner for best traditional R&B performance for “Anything for You,” Ledisi released 11th studio album, Good Life, last March.
In a statement prior to her pregame performance, Ledisi commented, “Performing at the Super Bowl is one of the most significant moments of my career. I’m honored to bring my voice and my story to such a monumental event, and I hope to inspire unity and pride with this performance.”
After partnering with Roc Nation in 2019, the NFL inaugurated its Super Bowl pre-game tradition of including “Lift Every Voice” in the wake of George Floyd’s murder. Alicia Keys first performed the song in a video that premiered for the NFL in September 2020 that was later re-aired ahead of Super Bowl LV in 2021. Since then, gospel duo Mary Mary, Sheryl Lee Ralph and, last year, Andra Day have delivered their own interpretations on the global sports stage.
The hymn originated as a poem written by NAACP leader James Weldon Johnson in 1900, with its verses paired with music composed by Johnson’s brother, John Rosamond Johnson. The song was later adopted by the NAACP as a clarion call during the civil rights movement of the ‘50s and ‘60s.
Preceding Kendrick Lamar’s highly anticipated Super Bowl LIX halftime performance, the pregame lineup also included performances by Lady Gaga (“Hold My Hand”), Lauren Daigle and Trombone Shortly (“America the Beautiful”) and Jon Batiste (“The Star-Spangled Banner”).
Super Bowl LIX opened with a bang. Before the Kansas City Chiefs and Philadelphia Eagles hit the field at the Caesars Superdome in New Orleans on Sunday (Feb. 9), Lady Gaga performed her Top Gun tune “Hold My Hand” surrounded by rapt revelers on the city’s infamous Bourbon Street. Her performance honored victims of the […]
Lady Gaga cast a spell at the 2025 Grammys with “Abracadabra,” and for the 2025 Super Bowl, she showed up to bring audiences together with another rousing performance.
In a special segment ahead of Super Bowl LIX, Gaga appeared alongside sports legends Tom Brady, Michael Strahan, Terry Bradshaw and others in a pre-filmed segment on New Orleans’ iconic Bourbon Street to pay tribute to the victims of multiple disasters over the last year, including the New Orleans terror attack, Hurricane Helene and the Los Angeles wildfires.
“Here on Bourbon Street, always the heart and soul of New Orleans, this year began with a terror attack that tried to shatter its spirit,” Strahan said while walking down the iconic thoroughfare sporting a “NOLA Strong” shirt. Brady, wearing an L.A. Fire Department T-shirt, joined in, adding that New Orleans’ resilience is “matched by the resolve of our country. When tragedy strikes, we don’t break — we come together, we rise above and we never let evil win.”
Trending on Billboard
The camera then cut to Gaga — sporting a wide-brimmed white hat and long white lace dress — seated at a piano and surrounded by a crowd in the middle of Bourbon Street. The singer launched into a stripped down performance of her Top Gun: Maverick single “Hold My Hand.” With various police officers and firefighters looking on, Gaga drove home the song’s inspirational message: “So cry tonight/ But don’t you let go of my hand,” she sang. “You can cry every last tear/ I won’t leave ’til I understand/ Promise you’ll just hold my hand.”
The segment aired just before the Philadelphia Eagles squared off against the Kansas City Chiefs in the 2025 Super Bowl. Music fans around the world will be tuning into the program to watch as Kendrick Lamar takes center stage at Caesars Superdome for the Super Bowl LIX Halftime Show, featuring special guest SZA.
In the pre-show, meanwhile, in addition to Gaga, performers included Ledisi, Harry Connick Jr., Lauren Daigle and Jon Batiste to deliver annual renditions of the national anthem, “Lift Every Voice and Sing” and “America the Beautiful.”
Watch Gaga’s performance of “Hold My Hand” above.
Lauren Daigle was joined by her fellow Louisiana native Trombone Shorty for a New Orleans-flavored take on “America the Beautiful” ahead of the 2025 Super Bowl. Trombone Shorty kicked things off with a wailing trombone line before Daigle began singing the patriotic standard. After the first verse, we got one more trombone solo before Daigle […]
LISA‘s “Born Again,” featuring Doja Cat and Raye, has claimed the top spot in this week’s new music poll, showcasing a diverse mix of artists across various genres.
Music fans cast their votes in a poll published on Friday (Feb. 7) on Billboard, selecting the trio’s sultry new single as their favorite release of the past week.
“Born Again” earned a commanding 86% of the vote, securing a notable edge ahead of other major new releases, including Anitta’s “Romeo,” Pardison Fontaine and Cardi B’s “Toot It Up,” Rema’s “Baby (Is It a Crime),” Dom Dolla and Daya’s “Dreamin’,” and more.
Trending on Billboard
The 27-year-old BLACKPINK member joined forces with Doja Cat and Raye for this disco-infused pop track, which previews her highly anticipated debut solo album, Alter Ego. The two guest artists bring their A-game — the “Paint the Town Red” rapper and “Escapism” singer complement LISA’s commanding lead vocals as she exudes luxurious confidence: “I would’ve made you a believer/ Would’ve showed you what it’s like,” she sings.
The glamorous music video features all three women performing the lyrics in a chic black-and-white mansion, lounging in a sleek living room. Throughout February, LISA has teased her collaboration, including the reveal of the Neo-Noir cover art earlier in the week. In the image, the trio are dressed in elegant black gowns, framed centrally in a striking composition.
Alter Ego will be released in full on Feb. 28. The album follows a series of singles in 2024, starting with “Rockstar,” which reached No. 70 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, and continuing with “New Woman,” featuring Rosalía and “Moonlit Floor (Kiss Me).”
In her Billboard cover story, LISA opened up about her perfectionist approach to the upcoming project. “I’m trying to figure it out, the tracklist and everything, what I can change in there,” she explained. “Everything’s there. I think they’re going to be shocked at how capable I am [at] doing so many things.”
Trailing behind “Born Again” in this week’s poll is Anitta’s “Romeo,” which garnered nearly 5% of the vote.
Check out the full results of this week’s poll below, and head over to Billboard’s Friday Music Guide for more must-hear releases.