Music News

Here’s How the Rap World Reacted to Kendrick Lamar’s Drake Diss

Rick Ross, Cam’ron & Ma$e, Gillie Da Kid and more weighed in on the ongoing feud between the two rap titans.

Unless you’ve been living under a rock, you know Kendrick Lamar finally responded to Drake‘s “Push Ups” and “Taylor Made Freestyle” with his own fiery single “Euphoria.” Produced by Sounwave, Cardo and Kyro, the song clocks in at six minutes, 24-seconds and has plenty of disses to unpack.

Throughout “Euphoria,” Lamar goes after a number of things he doesn’t like about Drake, like the way he talks, the way he dresses, the way he walks and the way he raises his son. He also touches on the 6 God’s dating life and even takes a shot at Lil Yachty for collaborating with Drizzy.

The song’s subject matter and the two-and-a-half week wait have been the main topics of conversation over the past 24 hours. People on social media have either been dissecting double entendres or reaching for the stars in hopes that their theories will go viral. As it turns out, celebrities are no different; rappers and athletes-turned-pundits have decided to chime in as well with their own two cents.

So far, the consensus is somewhat split. Gillie Da Kid of Million Dollaz Worth of Game called the record “corn on the cob,” KXNG CROOKED disagreed with Gillie, Mysonne was flabbergasted at the thought of people saying Kendrick’s response was mid, Cam and Mase think Drake is still in the lead, Rick Ross had more jokes, and Matt Barnes and Stephen Jackson of the All the Smoke podcast were impressed and excited about what’s to come. Creators have even gotten in on the discussion with the RDC guys quickly flipping a skit about the impact of Kendrick’s song.

Check out their reactions below:

Dua Lipa Helps Chloe Fineman Work on Her Pop Star Impression in New ‘SNL’ Promo

Dua Lipa is the ultimate pop star, and she helped Chloe Fineman work on her impression of her in a hilarious new Saturday Night Live promo.

In the clip, shared on Wednesday (May 3), Fineman tells the singer that she was “literally just working on my new impression,” before performing a haphazard rendition of “Levitating,” complete with the wrong lyrics and theatrical dance moves. “The lyrics aren’t 100 percent there,” Lipa tells the SNL cast member. “How about the dance moves? Maybe you’re just missing some of the dance moves?”

Fineman then tries again to no avail, which is when Lipa suggests Fineman changes her “look.” The scene cuts to the comedian in a Lipa-inspired red wig and red mini dress. “I’m really feeling the Dua spirit,” Lipa says in an English accent, before attempting her “Levitating” impression once again.

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“It’s close enough, you’re going to nail it,” Lipa tells Fineman, handing her the microphone so she can take over musical guest duties. “I’m going to actually just focus on my sketches, so I thought maybe you could do the performance for me. I’m going to go and grab dinner.”

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Lipa will be both hosting this weekend’s episode as well as performing as musical guest. The SNL appearance comes just a day after the release of her highly anticipated new album, Radical Optimism.

Watch the promo below, and catch Lipa’s full episode of Saturday Night Live this weekend (May 4) at 11:30 p.m. ET on NBC, before it begins streaming on Peacock.



Ayra Starr Announces Sophomore Album ‘The Year I Turned 21’

Ayra Starr will release her sophomore album The Year I Turned 21 on May 31, the Afropop starr revealed on Wednesday (May 1).

She also unveiled the album artwork, which features the 21-year-old Beninese-Nigerian singer sticking out of a red convertible, her windswept curly hair exposing her beautifully bejeweled floral dress. And she shared the track list for the 14-track project, which features collaborations with Asake (“Goodbye (Warm Up)”), Anitta and Coco Jones (“Woman Commando”), Giveon (“Last Heartbreak Song”), Seyi Vibez (“Bad Vibes”) and Milar (“1942”).

“Giiiirrrrrrlllll I’m so ready,” Anitta commented on Instagram.

Starr’s previously released singles “Commas” and “Rhythm & Blues” will also be included on the LP.

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“The Ayra Starr I want to introduce is excellent, sonically amazing. This album is unique, because I’ve been evolving sonically,” she said in a Billboard News interview back in February.

The Year I Turned 21 arrives three years after her debut studio album, 19 & Dangerous, which featured her “Rush” smash, which was one of the first songs to be nominated in the inaugural best African music performance category at the Grammys this year, and standout track “Bloody Samaritan,” which was later remixed by Kelly Rowland.

Starr recently collaborated with Rvssian and Rauw Alejandro on “Santa,” which is currently sitting at No. 13 on Hot Latin Songs (chart dated May 4) and debuted at No. 36 on Billboard Global Excl. US this week.

See Ayra Starr’s album announcement below.

Megan Thee Stallion Teases ‘Megan May’ With a Racy Transformation: ‘Get Ready’

Megan Thee Stallion is ready to heat up for a Hot Girl Summer. The Houston Hottie teased fans on Wednesday (May 1) to gear up for what she’s dubbing “Megan May” this month.

The 29-year-old kicked off “Megan May” with a slimy yet racy photo shoot. Continuing with the serpentine theme of her previous singles, she appears to be shedding her skin heading into the new era in the snap.

“Hotties it’s officially MEGAN MAY Get ready,” she wrote alongside the seafoam green-tinted photo.

Plenty of fans were hyped by the announcement, as was Juicy J. “Yes sir,” he chimed in in the comments section.

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“I was inspired to create this album about rebirth because I feel I am becoming a new person physically and mentally,” she told Women’s Health of the project in April.

Her upcoming album remains without a release date, but it’s possibly inching closer with Megan set to hit the road for her Hot Girl Summer World Tour. The North American trek will feature support from GloRilla, and is slated to run through arenas starting on May 14 in Minneapolis at the Target Center.

Meg and Glo will visit 31 cities, including Los Angeles, New York, Chicago, Philadelphia and Thee Stallion’s hometown of Houston. Megan will travel across the pond starting on July 4 in Glasgow, Scotland, with more European shows in England, France, Germany and Ireland scheduled.

GloRilla and Megan Thee Stallion teamed up for “Wanna Be” in April on Glo’s Ehhthang Ehhthang EP, which sits at No. 48 on the Billboard Hot 100.

It’s already been a robust 2024 campaign for Meg, who added another Hot 100 No. 1 single to her résumé with the fiery “Hiss.”

In February, Megan announced that she agreed to an innovative partnership with Warner Music Group. The unique distribution deal allows Thee Stallion to maintain independence while accessing WMG’s global services ranging from music promotion to distribution and worldwide marketing.

Find Megan Thee Stallion’s teaser below.

Offset & Cardi B Have a Date Night at New York Knicks Game Following Split

Cardi B and Offset are continuing to fuel rumors that they’ve rekindled their romance.

The pair was spotted in videos from fans appearing on the big screen while sitting together courtside at the New York Knicks game at Madison Square Garden on Tuesday night (April 30). Additionally, Offset took to his Instagram Stories to share a sweet video of Cardi hanging out in a home movie theater seat, dressed in a sleek plaid mini skirt and fluffy boots, paired with stacks of luxurious jewelry and a Birkin bag. See his Stories here.

The hype from her ex came despite Cardi announcing in December that she was single, marking an end to the couple’s tumultuous, on-and-off six-year relationship. In keeping with the up-and-down journey they’ve been on, though, the pair were seen spending New Year’s Eve together in Miami. In a live Twitter chat the next day, Cardi seemed to confirm that she and the Migos rapper spent time together. “Was I clubbing with my baby father yesterday?” a congested Cardi said during the X event. “Yes. Did I got d—ed down yesterday? Absolutely baby… I need some d–k on New Year’s Eve.”

Cardi also reportedly told fans to “shut the f–k up” after they speculated that she’d gotten back together with Offset, slamming her “own f–king fan base” for “talking s–t” about her. “Did I say I was back together with somebody?” she yelled. However, just a month later, the pair were pictured together at a restaurant in Miami Beach on Valentine’s Day.

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Cardi and Offset tied the knot in 2017, and share two children together: five-year-old daughter Kulture Kiari and two-year-old Wave Set.

Benny Blanco Can’t Believe He’s Dating Selena Gomez Either: ‘How Did This Happen?’

Benny Blanco knows he’s a lucky guy. While promoting his new cookbook Open Wide on TODAY With Hoda & Jenna Wednesday (May 1), the producer opened up about wooing Selena Gomez through the power of food and emphasized that he still can’t believe he was able to win over the superstar’s heart.

“I wake up every day, and I look in the mirror, and I’m like, ‘How did this happen?’” an animated Blanco told hosts Hoda Kotb and Jenna Bush Hager on the show. “But until anyone figures it out, whee!”

When asked whether cooking was the secret to romantic success, Blanco poked fun at his own looks. “Are you out of your mind?” he said. “Look at me!”

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“The only way I got where I am is by cooking food,” he added, referring to his relationship with the Rare Beauty founder, whom he started dating in June. “That’s the best first date in the world.”

The interview comes the morning after Open Wide hit shelves Tuesday (April 30), which Blanco and Gomez celebrated with an intimate party that night. The Only Murders in the Building actress later shared photos from the event, showing off the “Eastside” musician’s cake and writing that she was “so proud” of him.

On the evening of his book launch, Blanco also stopped by The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, where he treated the late-night host to a full steak dinner. While there, he once again opened up about bribing SZA with food to record music, as well as working on Ed Sheeran’s Divide album with the “Bad Habits” singer during a days-long sailing journey to Europe.

“Me and Ed Sheeran watched Titanic in bed, cuddling, on the fourth night,” the “Eastside” singer told Fallon. “He’s the nicest guy in the world.”

Watch Benny Blanco’s interview with Hoda and Jenna above, and Fallon below:



Nicki Minaj Brings Out Drake During Toronto Concert for Live Debut of ‘Needle’: Watch

Drake and Nicki Minaj have reunited to give Young Money fans a heavy dose of nostalgia. Minaj returned north of the border for another Pink Friday 2 World Tour stop in Toronto on Tuesday night (April 30), and the 6 God surprised his hometown crowd with a guest appearance.

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Drizzy popped out for the Young Money duo’s live debut of “Needle.” The island-tinged record landed on Minaj’s Pink Friday 2 album in December, but the two were yet to hit the stage together for a performance of the track.

Draped in baggy pants and a matching camo jacket, Drake and Nicki electrified the Scotiabank Arena crowd with their seamless energy for their first performance together in years.

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At one point, Drizzy gave Minaj a kiss on the cheek. “Make some noise for the king of Toronto,” Nicki told the audience as she walked backstage. “Make some noise for this icon, this legend.”

With Nicki undergoing a wardrobe change, the 6 God kept the party buzzing while performing “Rich Baby Daddy.” He then left the crowd with a message that could possibly be tied to his scintillating feud with Kendrick Lamar.

“I love you. You know what time it is — you know what I have to do,” he cryptically stated.

“Needle” served as a Pink Friday 2 standout and peaked at No. 34 in its debut on the Billboard Hot 100; the track remained on the chart for four weeks.

The trek doesn’t stop for Nicki, who is returning to her hometown on Wednesday (May 1) for a Barclays Center show in Brooklyn. She’ll then have a week off before heading back out for three dates in Texas.

Watch clips of Drake’s performance with Nicki Minaj below.

Ozuna’s ‘El Farsante’ Video Surpasses 1 Billion YouTube Views

Reggaetón star Ozuna has entered his 14th music video into YouTube’s Billion Views Club. The Puerto Rican hitmaker’s “El Farsante” clip has now surpassed one billion views.

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Released seven years ago, the nearly four-minute visual isn’t a music video, but more of a visualizer with the single’s artwork displayed throughout the video. The milestone follows the Romeo Santos-assisted remix of “El Farsante,” which had previously surpassed one billion views. Currently, Ozuna takes No. 28 on YouTube’s Global Top Artists

While the trap-leaning song, a departure from Ozuna’s rhythmic reggaetón sound, didn’t have much presence on the Billboard charts, its remix with Romeo Santos did. That version peaked at No. 49 on the Hot 100 in 2018. It also landed at No. 2 on the Hot Latin Songs chart.

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“El Farsante” is included in Ozuna’s Odisea, the artist’s debut album released in 2017. That set, which included other hit songs such as “Se Preparó” and “Dile Que Tu Me Quieres,” peaked at No. 22 on the Billboard 200. Over on Top Latin Albums, it peaked at No. 1 for a whopping 46 weeks, his longest leading album on the tally. Odisea still ties with Bad Bunny’s X100PRE for the fourth-most weeks at No. 1 among all albums since the chart launched in 1993.

In November, Ozuna released his latest album, titled Cosmo, a semi-surprise release that was announced just three days before its release date on Nov. 17. The LP secured him his seventh straight top 10 set on the Top Latin Albums chart.

Watch Ozuna’s “El Farsante” visualizer video below:



Selena Gomez Shares Sweet Photos From Benny Blanco’s Cookbook Party: ‘So Proud’

Selena Gomez is a proud girlfriend. In honor of Benny Blanco‘s new cookbook Open Wide hitting shelves Tuesday (April 30), the singer-actress shared a trio of adorable photos from the producer’s launch party on Instagram.

In the first snap, the Rare Beauty founder kneels down to take a bite directly out of a realistic cake made to look like Blanco’s new book, featuring the newly minted author on the cover. In the second photo, she and her beau sit together while admiring the confection, while the third picture finds the couple posing sweetly for the camera, Blanco’s arms wrapped around Gomez.

“So proud of @itsbennyblanco – Open Wide is out now!!” the Only Murders in the Building star captioned the post.

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“life is better when i’m w u,” Blanco wrote in the comments.

The cookbook release is an extra special occasion for the pair — who started dating in June — as Blanco has been open about the fact that he and his superstar girlfriend bonded over their love of food. You could even say that cooking is their love language — earlier this week, the “Eastside” musician took followers through the process of cooking Gomez a romantic dinner, which he left at her bedside with a note reading, “I love you! Sleep well! I made you steak.”

He also said in a recent Wall Street Journal interview that he and Gomez enjoy making lavish dinners for their families. Blanco went on to tell the publication that he was “the last one to know” he had feelings for the Wizards of Waverly Place star, adding, “It’s crazy how your partner could just be sitting there the whole time, right in front of your eyes, and you don’t even notice, and then you have that Clueless moment where you’re like, ‘Wait, I’m in love.’”

Ed Sheeran Celebrating 10th Anniversary of ‘X’ Album With Intimate Barclays Show, Bonus Tracks

Ed Sheeran is going all-out for the 10th anniversary celebration of his sophomore album, x. Ten years to the day of the LP’s original release, Sheeran will drop x (10th Anniversary Edition) on June 21, an expanded version of the 12-song original featuring nine bonus tracks, none of which have ever been available on vinyl before.

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In addition, Sheeran will play a special, one-off show at Brooklyn’s Barclays Center on May 22 with a setlist reflecting his 24-track 2015 x (Wembley Edition) release. According to a release, he’s also partnered with Seated for an exclusive fan on-sale to assure that tickets get into the hands of fans, with registration open now through Thursday (May 2) at 11:59 p.m. ET; click here for more details on the pre-sale. Expecting demand to be overwhelming, the pre-sale will be limited to a select number of randomly selected fans, with only one registration allowed per person. Registered fans will be notified via email or text before noon ET on Sunday (May 5) with a unique, one-time code that will allow them to buy up to two tickets via Ticketmaster.

Getting a code does not guarantee the ability to buy tickets, which will be available on a first-come, first-served basis when they go on sale to the general public on Monday (May 6) at 10 a.m. ET. For context, Sheeran’s team noted that his most recent New York shows were in front of 173,390 fans across two shows at MetLife Stadium, with only 12,000 tickets available for the Barclays gig.

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Sheeran’s second album helped turn him into a global superstar, with 22 million worldwide sales thanks to such hits as “Don’t,” “Sing,” “Photograph” and “Thinking Out Loud.” The bonus tracks include: “Take It Back,” “Shirtsleeves,” “Even My Dad Does Sometimes,” “I See Fire” (from The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug), “All of the Stars” (from The Fault in Our Stars), “English Rose,” “Touch and Go,” “New York” and “Make It Rain.”