Music News

20 May 2024

Vince Staples Prepping ‘Dark Times’ Album, Drops Contemplative ‘Shame on the Devil’ Video

Vince Staples announced the upcoming release of his sixth full-length studio album, Dark Times, on Monday morning (May 20), revealing that his Def Jam LP will drop on Friday (May 24). The 13-track collection is described in a release as “a muscular and revelatory work refining elements that have been present in his catalog for the last decade: dense lyricism over lush, layered beats; wry, melancholic observations about life; finding pockets of light in an endless dark.”

The album was previewed with the contemplative “Shame on the Devil,” whose 50-second video is a split-screen with one side containing a close-up of Staples rapping his lamentations over the song’s laconic beat. The other side of the screen portrays the shadows of a woman and a child arguing in a room with a man in profile who, at one point, removes the halo hovering over his head as Staples rap/sings, “Shame on the devil/ I’m touched by an angel/ The lord made me special.”

In a statement, Staples called the track a “personal achievement… it’s me mastering some things I’ve tried before that I wasn’t great at in the beginning. It’s a testament to musical growth, song structure — all the good stuff.”

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A release noted that the album was recorded over seven months in North Hollywood, with the title coming to the rapper/actor “intuitively” after he listened to the whole thing and noticed some recurring “heavy” motifs. “I’m Black, and that’s what we’re evading,” he said of the album cover, a stark black-and-white image of Staples with his eyes closed in deep thought. “We all have our things that could kill us. We all have that imminent threat.”

Dark Times is the follow-up to 2022’s Ramona Park Broke My Heart and Staples’ first big project since February’s debut of his five-episode Netflix series The Vince Staples Show.

Watch the “Shame on the Devil” video and see the Dark Times track list below.

Dark Times tracklist:

  1. “Close Your Eyes and Swing”
  2. “Black & Blue”
  3. “Government Cheese”
  4. “Children’s Song”
  5. “Shame On the Devil” 
  6. “Étouffée” 
  7. “Liars”
  8. “Justin”
  9. “‘Radio’”
  10. “Nothing Matters” 
  11. “Little Homies” 
  12. “Freeman” 
  13. “Why Won’t the Sun Come Out?”

19 May 2024

Fans Choose Zayn’s ‘Room Under the Stairs’ as This Week’s Favorite New Music

Zayn‘s Room Under the Stairs tops this week’s new music poll.

Music fans voted in a poll published Friday (May 17) on Billboard, choosing the star’s latest album as their favorite new music release of the past week.

The former One Direction singer’s latest studio album brought in more than 47% of the vote, topping Billie Eilish’s Hit Me Hard and Soft by only 3%. In a week full of fresh tunes across pop, country and hip-hop, poll voters selected Room Under the Stairs over new music releases by Eilish, Saweetie, Luke Combs and A Boogie With da Hoodie.

Recorded at Zayn’s home in rural Pennsylvania and produced by Dave Cobb, Room Under the Stairs is the singer’s fourth solo album and the follow-up to 2021’s Nobody Is Listening. With a shift from pop to R&B mixed with country-rock influence, Zayn’s rootsy new set is led by single “What I Am.”

“I haven’t got a name for the genre,” Zayn said in a recent interview with Zach Sang. “It’s just me,” he noted.

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“There’s no specific, strategic plan behind it … It’s just expression. Whatever came out, came out,” he added.

Of today’s sound, Zayn told Nylon, “People are in search of a little bit more depth from the lyrics. In the Top 40 charts, a lot of mainstream music feels a bit wishy-washy. The songs are f—ing fire. You know what I mean? They’re catchy. They’re playing on the radio and they do their job, but people are looking for a little bit more.”

Trailing behind Room Under the Stairs on this week’s poll is Billie Eilish’s new album Hit Me Hard and Soft, with just over 44% of the vote, followed by Saweetie’s “NANi,” Luke Combs’ “Ain’t No Love in Oklahoma” and A Boogie Wit da Hoodie’s Better Off Alone.

See the final results of this week’s new music poll below.

19 May 2024

Tecate Emblema 2024: Day 2 Brings Queens Christina Aguilera, Nelly Furtado & Anitta

The second (and last) day of the Tecate Emblema festival in Mexico City was all about female power, with Christina Aguilera, Nelly Furtado and Annita gracing the stage. The international superstars all sang and spoke in Spanish, conquering the almost 72,000 attendees that packed the Curve 4 of the Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez on Saturday (May 18), according to figures from promoter Ocesa.

Other young female voices including Nicki Nicole, Lali, Aitana, Inna, Empress Of, The Aces and the Argentine duo Miranda! also won the crowd at the F1 headquarters in an evening that had a touch of nostalgia and that equally celebrated pop, funk, indie pop, soul, cumbia and reggaeton, among other rhythms.

Many attendees wore special outfits for the occasion, including bright and fluorescent garments, veils, flowers, sequins, feathers, platforms and short dresses. Neither the high temperatures in the capital city nor the environmental contingency reported by the local government dampened the desire to dance and enjoy the music to the fullest. Some couples showed off their best twerking moves during Anitta’s show, the first of her global Baile Funk Experience Tour, which arrives to the U.S. May 21 in Los Angeles.

Renowned British DJ Calvin Harris was in charge of closing the musical marathon with a set that included the song “Ocean,” his upcoming single in collaboration with Miley Cyrus, which promises to become one of the songs of the summer.

Below, see five of our favorite moments from Day 2 of the 24th edition of Tecate Emblema. (For a highlights recap from Day 1, click here.)

19 May 2024

Taylor Swift Debuts Heavyhearted ‘How Did It End?’ Live After Joyful Max Martin Medley in Stockholm

Taylor Swift‘s surprise song set went from celebratory to somber in Stockholm on Sunday (May 19). For the acoustic section of her third Eras show at Friends Arena, Swift was all smiles as she dedicated a medley to Sweden’s Max Martin — and then full of melancholy for the live debut of “How Did It End?” from The Tortured Poets Department: The Anthology.

First up was Swift’s pop medley on guitar in honor of the “genius pop songwriters and producers” she’s said she’s worked with. “Max is actually here tonight,” she pointed out, revealing that she was going to play “what I am calling the Max Martin Medley.”

She started with “Message in a Bottle,” the first song she ever wrote with Martin, which was penned with Martin and Shellback for her 2012 album Red but didn’t get released until 2021’s Red (Taylor’s Version). “Message in a Bottle” is a vault track on Swift’s rerecorded version of the collection.

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“How You Get the Girl” and “New Romantics,” both from the 1989 era, completed the upbeat medley that Swift looked elated to play at the third of a trio of shows in Stockholm this weekend.

But the joyful mood shifted when Swift sat at her piano and told the crowd, “I’ve never performed this one live before,” and then went straight into “How Did It End?” from Tortured Poets. Featured on the Anthology edition of the star’s new album, “How Did It End?” is a stirring ballad that questions the collapse of a relationship.

While Swift was on stage performing in Stockholm, Billboard reported that The Tortured Poets Department has locked its fourth consecutive week atop the Billboard 200.

After wrapping a three-day stint in Stockholm, she’ll be taking her Eras Tour to Lisbon, Portugal, for a set of concerts next weekend.

Watch clips of “How Did It End?” and Swift’s medley of “Message in a Bottle,” “How You Get the Girl” and “New Romantics” below. Check out a complete list of all the other surprise songs Swift has performed on The Eras Tour so far here.


https://youtube.com/watch?v=LkxbB5mKs7M&version=3&rel=1&showsearch=0&showinfo=1&iv_load_policy=1&fs=1&hl=en-US&autohide=2&wmode=transparent

19 May 2024

Amy Winehouse Biopic ‘Back to Black’ Has a Disappointing Opening Weekend

Back to Black, a biopic based on the life of acclaimed singer-songwriter Amy Winehouse, grossed a disappointing $2.85 million in its first weekend at the domestic (U.S. and Canada) box office, according to boxofficemojo.com.

That put it in sixth place for the weekend, and in third place among debuting films. The weekend leader was IF ($35 million in its first weekend), followed by Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes ($26 million in its second weekend), The Strangers: Chapter 1 ($12 million in its first weekend), The Fall Guy ($8.5 million in its third weekend) and Challengers ($2.9 million in its fourth weekend).

This year’s top-grossing biopic, Bob Marley: One Love, grossed $33.6 million in its first weekend, which was the three-day President’s Day weekend in February. (For a direct, apples-to-apples comparison to the Winehouse film, the Bob Marley biopic grossed $28.7 million in the Friday to Sunday period.)

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Marisa Abela stars as Winehouse in Back to Black, which was directed by Sam Taylor-Johnson and written by Matt Greenhalgh. That same director/writer team collaborated on Nowhere Boy, a 2009 film about the early life of John Lennon. (Taylor-Johnson’s biggest hit to date as a director is Fifty Shades of Grey.)

Winehouse released just two albums in her lifetime — Frank (released in October 2003) and Back to Black (October 2006). The latter album was a global smash, reaching No. 1 on the Official U.K. Album Chart and No. 2 on the Billboard 200. It produced the hit “Rehab,” which made the top 10 on the Billboard Hot 100 and won Grammys for record and song of the year.

Winehouse won five Grammys in 2008, which enabled her to tie the record at the time for most Grammys won by a female artist in one year. (That record has since been eclipsed, first by Beyoncé in 2010 and then by Adele in 2012). Winehouse was just 27 when she died of alcohol poisoning in July 2011. She won a sixth Grammy posthumously in February 2012 for “Body and Soul,” a collab with Tony Bennett, who was a big admirer.

19 May 2024

Taylor Swift Spends a Month at No. 1 on Billboard 200 With ‘The Tortured Poets Department’

Taylor Swift’s The Tortured Poets Department locks in its fourth consecutive week atop the Billboard 200 (dated May 25), as the set earned 260,000 equivalent album units in the U.S. in the week ending May 16 (down 8%), according to Luminate. The effort is the first album to spend its first four weeks at No. 1 since Travis Scott’s Utopia led in its first four weeks last summer (Aug. 12-Sept. 2, 2023).

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With 260,000 units earned in Poets’ fourth week, the set scores the largest fourth-week for any album since Adele’s 25 tallied 825,000 units in its fourth frame (chart dated Jan. 2, 2016).

Plus, Swift adds her 73rd career week at No. 1 on the Billboard 200, extending her record among soloists (Elvis Presley has the second-most among soloists, with 67). The total encompasses her 14 leaders. (She’s tied with Jay-Z for the most No. 1s among soloists.)

Trending on Billboard

Also in the top 10 of the new Billboard 200, Gunna lands his sixth top 10-charting effort as One of Wun bows at No. 2.

The Billboard 200 chart ranks the most popular albums of the week in the U.S. based on multi-metric consumption as measured in equivalent album units, compiled by Luminate. Units comprise album sales, track equivalent albums (TEA) and streaming equivalent albums (SEA). Each unit equals one album sale, or 10 individual tracks sold from an album, or 3,750 ad-supported or 1,250 paid/subscription on-demand official audio and video streams generated by songs from an album. The new May 25, 2024-dated chart will be posted in full on Billboard‘s website on May 21. For all chart news, follow @billboard and @billboardcharts on both X, formerly known as Twitter, and Instagram.

Of The Tortured Poets Department’s fourth-week unit sum of 260,000, SEA units comprise 217,500 (down 5%, equaling 282.4 million on-demand official streams of the set’s songs), traditional album sales comprise 41,000 (down 19%) and TEA units comprise 1,500 (up 18%).

Gunna lands his sixth top 10-charting effort, all of which have reached the top five, as One of Wun enters at No. 2 with 91,000 equivalent album units earned. Of that sum, SEA units comprise 90,000 (equaling 118.52 million on-demand official streams of the set’s songs), while album sales comprise 1,000 and TEA units comprise a negligible sum. Gunna previously visited the top 10 with A Gift & a Curse (No. 3, 2023), DS4Ever (No. 1, 2022), Wunna (No. 1, 2020), Drip or Drown 2 (No. 3, 2019) and Drip Harder (No. 4, 2018).

Gunna announced the new project on April 15, though he did not disclose the May 10 release date for the project until May 3. The album was released only as a streaming set and as a retail-available digital download. A CD and vinyl edition of the album are up for pre-order in Gunna’s official webstore, though no release date for those configurations has been announced, and his store only notes they will both ship “in 2024.”

Morgan Wallen’s chart-topping One Thing at a Time is steady at No. 3 on the Billboard 200 with 75,000 equivalent album units (up 7%); Future and Metro Boomin’s former No. 1 We Don’t Trust You is also a non-mover at No. 4 (53,000; down 13%); and Wallen’s earlier leader Dangerous: The Double Album climbs 7-5 (44,000; up 6%). Both Wallen albums likely post increases due to the publicity and promotion around the May 10 release of Post Malone’s “I Had Some Help,” featuring Wallen — even though the song is not on either of the Wallen albums. (The track is expected to be on Post Malone’s upcoming album.) Wallen last had two titles in the top five at the same time on the July 29, 2023-dated chart, when One Thing at a Time and Dangerous were Nos. 2 and 5, respectively.

Noah Kahan’s Stick Season rises 9-6 on the new Billboard 200 with 41,000 equivalent album units (up 2%); SZA’s chart-topping SOS climbs 10-7 (38,000; down 1%); Zach Bryan’s self-titled former No. 1 bumps 12-8 (38,000; up 5%); Benson Boone’s Fireworks & Rollerblades glides 11-9 (just over 35,000; down 4%); and Beyoncé’s chart-topping Cowboy Carter dips 8-10 (35,000; down 14%).

Luminate, the independent data provider to the Billboard charts, completes a thorough review of all data submissions used in compiling the weekly chart rankings. Luminate reviews and authenticates data. In partnership with Billboard, data deemed suspicious or unverifiable is removed, using established criteria, before final chart calculations are made and published.

19 May 2024

Travis Kelce’s Kelce Jam 2024: 6 Best Moments From Kansas City’s Biggest Music Festival

Who’s had a better year than Travis Kelce? Another Super Bowl ring, dating arguably the most popular musician on the planet in Taylor Swift and a new contract extension, life ain’t too bad for the Kansas City Chiefs superstar tight end.

With all of the victories, added exposure and soaring star power, Killa Trav also took his Kelce Jam festival to another level in its second rendition.

This weekend saw Lil Wayne, 2 Chainz and Diplo headlining Kelce Jam 2024 presented by Jim Beam about a half-hour outside Kansas City at the Azura Amphitheater.

Travis Kelce at Kelce Jam's Backyard BBQ at the Azura Amphitheater in Bonner Springs, Kansas, on Saturday, May 18, 2024.

Travis Kelce at Kelce Jam’s Backyard BBQ at the Azura Amphitheater in Bonner Springs, Kansas, on Saturday, May 18, 2024.

Doug Van Sant Photography

Thousands entered through the gates rocking outfits celebrating Kelce and their beloved Chiefs while some opted to don another shade of red in support Swift, who was performing across the globe in Sweden on Saturday night (May 18) as part of her Eras Tour.

“Insane,” Kelce tells Billboard when putting the euphoria of his last year into words, but he’s got no plans to stop pushing either. “And I’m gonna try to top it this year.”

From the second Travis steps onto the festival grounds in the late afternoon, it’s all eyes on him. He turns into a superhero with a child-like exuberance that somehow never drains throughout the night with an energy level at 34 that could run circles around most college students.

Kelce has become of the NFL’s biggest stars and the rare non-quarterback that’s able to transcend pop-culture in a way that few before him have.

From the lively performances to the eclectic outfits and a brief red carpet chat with the three-time Super Bowl champion, here are the best moments from Kelce Jam 2024. Watch the live stream here.

19 May 2024

50 Cent Reacts to Diddy’s Apology Over Cassie Ventura Hotel Assault Video

50 Cent didn’t take long to share his reaction to Sean “Diddy” Combs‘ apology over a 2016 video that appears to show the Bad Boy CEO assaulting then-girlfriend Cassie Ventura in a hotel.

“This is not going to work, who is advising him right now? SMH bad move,” the G-Unit boss — who has been relentless in his yearslong feud of mocking Diddy — posted to Instagram on Sunday (May 19).

On Sunday morning, Combs took to social media to share a video of himself taking responsibility for his actions in the disturbing clip.

Trending on Billboard

“It’s so difficult to reflect on the darkest times in your life, but sometimes you got to do that,” Combs says in his apology video on Instagram. “I was f—ed up. I mean, I hit rock bottom. But I make no excuses. My behavior on that video is inexcusable. I take full responsibility for my actions in that video. I’m disgusted. I was disgusted then when I did it, I’m disgusted now.”

In the video, obtained by CNN and dated March 5, 2016, Combs appears to shove Ventura to the ground near an elevator bank, kick her several times while she lies on the ground and drag her down a hallway.

Combs continued his apology on Sunday, saying, “I went out and sought professional help. Had to go into therapy, into rehab. Had to ask God for his mercy and grace. I’m so sorry. But I’m committed to being a better man each and every day. I’m not asking for forgiveness. I’m truly sorry.

See 50 Cent’s reaction to Diddy’s apology video on Instagram below.

19 May 2024

Jake Gyllenhaal Sings Rendition of Boyz II Men’s ‘End of the Road’ in ‘SNL’ Season Finale: Watch

Jake Gyllenhaal showed off his R&B musical chops while hosting Saturday Night Live.

During his opening monologue on May 18, the Road House actor sang an impressive rendition of Boyz II Men‘s 1992 hit song “End of the Road” to mark the show’s season 49 finale.

Before breaking into song, Gyllenhaal poked fun at hosting the season 49 finale before the long-running NBC sketch comedy show celebrates its 50th season.

“When you think of historic television seasons, the first number that pops into your head is 49,” the actor said. “I mean, sure, you know, one more episode and I would have been hosting the premiere of the 50th season, but who cares?”

He added, “I know we’re all waiting for Season 50, but you can’t get to 50, without a little bit of 49. And we’re here at the finale, the end of the road.”

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Gyllenhaal then crooned to the tune of “End of the Road” while jokingly listing off the celebrities SNL asked to host the season finale before him.

“You know, I was actually SNL‘s first choice to host the finale after a lot of people said no,” he said. “I guess they’re all holding out for the 50th but not me.”

“I’m the one who said, yeah,” the actor continued before rattling off names like Pedro Pascal, Zendaya and Ryan Gosling, who recently hosted the show.

Gyllenhaal was then joined by SNL cast members Ego Nwodim, Kenan Thompson, Punkie Johnson and Devon Walker, who sported black baseball hats and white sweaters with tan pants.

“We’ve come to the end of the road/ It’s the last episode/ It’s time to say goodbye to season 49/ You’ll be 50 soon,” they sang together.

Elsewhere during the episode, first-time musical guest Sabrina Carpenter performed her Billboard Hot 100 chart top 10 single “Espresso,” along with a medley of “Feather” and “Nonsense.” Check out the performances here.

Watch Gyllenhaal’s SNL monologue below. For those without cable, the broadcast streams on Peacock, which you can sign up for at the link here. Having a Peacock account also gives fans access to previous SNL episodes.

19 May 2024

Diddy Shares Apology Over Disturbing Cassie Ventura Hotel Video: ‘I’m Truly Sorry’

Sean “Diddy” Combs has issued an apology in response to a 2016 video that appears to show him assaulting then-girlfriend Cassie Ventura in a hotel.

On Sunday morning (May 19), the hip-hop mogul took to social media to share a 70-second video of himself taking responsibility for his actions in the disturbing clip.

“It’s so difficult to reflect on the darkest times in your life, but sometimes you got to do that,” Diddy says in his apology video, which he posted to Instagram. “I was f—ed up. I mean, I hit rock bottom. But I make no excuses. My behavior on that video is inexcusable. I take full responsibility for my actions in that video. I’m disgusted. I was disgusted then when I did it, I’m disgusted now.”

In the video, obtained by CNN and dated March 5, 2016, Combs appears to shove Ventura to the ground near an elevator bank, kick her several times while she lies on the ground and drag her down a hallway.

Combs continued his apology, saying, “I went out and sought professional help. Had to go into therapy, into rehab. Had to ask God for his mercy and grace. I’m so sorry. But I’m committed to being a better man each and every day. I’m not asking for forgiveness. I’m truly sorry.”

Trending on Billboard

The hip-hop star’s apology arrives on the heels of the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s office issuing a statement that Combs won’t be prosecuted over his actions in the 2016 video.

“We find the images extremely disturbing and difficult to watch,” the office of L.A. District Attorney George Gascón wrote in a statement on Instagram Friday (May 17). “If the conduct depicted occurred in 2016, unfortunately we would be unable to charge as the conduct would have occurred beyond the timeline where a crime of assault can be prosecuted.”

The statement added that law enforcement has not presented the L.A. County DA’s office with “a case related to the attack depicted in the video against Mr. Combs, but we encourage anyone who has been a victim or witness to a crime to report it to law enforcement or reach out to our office for support from our Bureau of Victims Services.”

The contents of the video mirror an assault allegation Ventura made in a now-settled lawsuit she filed against Diddy in November, in which she also alleged one instance of rape and another instance of Combs forcing her to have sex with male sex workers while he masturbated.

“The gut-wrenching video has only further confirmed the disturbing and predatory behavior of Mr. Combs,” said Ventura’s attorney, Douglas Wigdor, in a statement sent to Billboard. “Words cannot express the courage and fortitude that Ms. Ventura has shown in coming forward to bring this to light.”

Ventura had an on-again, off-again relationship with Combs for 11 years until they split in 2018. In the lawsuit, she said she met Combs in 2005 when she was 19 and he was 37. After signing to his Bad Boy Records label, Ventura claimed that Combs “lured” her into a romantic relationship in which he “asserted complete control” over her life.

Since Ventura filed her lawsuit late last year, Combs has been hit with four additional sexual misconduct lawsuits. In November, the mogul stepped down as chairman of his digital media company Revolt before reportedly selling his stake in the company in March. Also in March, federal agents conducted raids of Combs’ L.A. and Miami homes “in connection” with a federal sex trafficking investigation, according to CNN.

Combs has strongly denied all allegations of sexual assault made against him. “Let me be absolutely clear: I did not do any of the awful things being alleged,” he said in a statement posted to social media on Dec. 6. “I will fight for my name, my family and for the truth.”

Watch Diddy’s apology video on Instagram below.