Music News

15 Apr 2024

Gunna Announces New Album ‘One of Wun’ Is On the Way: See the Cover Art

Gunna season has returned. The YSL rapper announced on Monday (April 15) his official plans for a new album titled One of Wun.

While the Atlanta native did not reveal a release date for the new project, he did uncover the LP’s artwork. Designed by Calvin Clausell Jr., Gunna continues with the floral theme from A Gift & a Curse as his face is covered by a mix of blue and white flower petals.

Gunna kicked off the rollout for One of Wun with a pair of singles, “Bittersweet” and “Prada Dem,” which features an assist from Offset. In tandem with the album announcement, the 30-year-old unleashed a special performance video for “Bittersweet” showcasing his new dental work.

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The “Fukumean” rapper is slated to hit the road with Flo Milli this spring for 16 shows as part of The Bittersweet Tour starting up in May. Stops are scheduled for Detroit, Chicago, Seattle, San Francisco, Houston, Miami and more before wrapping up the tour with a hometown performance in Atlanta at State Farm Arena on June 11.

Gunna’s A Gift & a Curse album arrived in June 2023 and debuted at No. 3 on the Billboard 200 with 85,000 album-equivalent units sold in the first week. The album’s second single “Fukumean” earned Gunna his first No. 1 hit on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart and topped the Rhythmic Airplay chart as well.

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The new LP comes after Gunna’s long legal battle in the ongoing YSL RICO trial. In December 2022, Gunna took an Alford plea deal in order to be released from prison and effectively end his involvement in the case.

Find the cover art for One of Wun below.

15 Apr 2024

Sabrina Carpenter’s Delicious ‘Espresso’ and 4 More Cool New Pop Songs This Week

Looking for some motivation to help power you through the start of another work week? We feel you, and with some stellar new pop tunes, we’ve got you covered.

These tracks from artists including Perrie, Tinashe, Mimi Webb and more will get you energized to take on the week. Pop any of these gems into your personal playlists — or scroll to the end of the post for a custom playlist.

Coolest Pop Song of the Week: Sabrina Carpenter, “Espresso”



We are now multiple years into Sabrina Carpenter’s ascent to pop’s A-list: beginning with her promising singles in 2021 and continuing with her excellent 2022 full-length Emails I Can’t Send, the former Disney Channel star reinvented her kid-friendly sound, leaned into wink-heavy hook writing and showcased her charisma while expanding her listenership. The commercial wins have kept accumulating: “Nonsense” went viral and became her highest-charting Hot 100 hit (No. 56 peak) last year, then “Feather” lapped it this year (No. 26 peak) while becoming Carpenter’s first No. 1 at Pop Airplay. All the while, Carpenter was playing to stadium audiences while opening for Taylor Swift’s Eras tour, and lining up a high-profile slot at Coachella.

New single “Espresso” was released last week to coincide with that festival performance, and is off to a hot start, creeping into the top 5 of Spotify’s U.S. Top 50 chart on Monday. The song could very well take Carpenter even higher on the Hot 100 and into a new tier of music stardom — which is great, because “Espresso” might be her most immediate, buoyant single to date.

The hallmarks of New-School Sabrina are present: the sunny synth-pop production (with a funk riff here to keep things fresh), the radio-friendly chorus, the tongue-in-cheek lyrics that personalize the entire affair (“My ‘give a f–ks’ are on vacation,” Carpenter shrugs). The difference between “Espresso” and her past singles resides in the coziness of Carpenter’s delivery: the way she sinks into each syllable — “And I got this one boyyyy, and he won’t stop callinnnnn’ / When they act this waaaay, I know I got ‘em” — communicates an easy command that complements both the songwriting and Carpenter’s breathy tone. “Espresso” has a lot going for it, but Carpenter provides its identity, and has seemingly placed her fingerprints on another hit.

Here are some more new pop songs worth checking out this week…

15 Apr 2024

Instagram & Threads Are Celebrating Taylor Swift’s Upcoming Album With Easter Eggs for Swifties

Taylor Swift is just days away from unveiling her 11th studio album, The Tortured Poets Department, on April 19, and Instagram and Threads are celebrating the upcoming release with fun hidden features for Swifties.

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Starting on Monday (April 15), fans can go to Swift’s Instagram page via mobile and see a countdown to the album’s release when they pull down and refresh the profile. The countdown will lead Swifties to follow the superstar over on Threads, where there are two more Easter eggs to enjoy. Conversations tagged #TTPD, #The Tortured Poets Department, #Tortured Poets, #TSTTPD, #Swifties or #Taylor Swift on Threads will reveal a special shimmer effect, while celebratory hearts will appear on-screen when someone “likes” a post tagged with any of the above tags.

Instagram and Threads noted that more exciting experiences will add to their platforms in the coming days.

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The Tortured Poets Department will be Swift’s first album of new material since October 2022’s Midnights, which won album of the year and best pop vocal album at the 2024 Grammys. She also put out (Taylor’s Version) re-recordings of Speak Now and 1989 in 2023, as she embarked on her career-spanning Eras Tour.

Swift has already announced the track list, as well as three variants of the 16-track album, each featuring a different bonus track: “The Manuscript,” “The Bolter” and “The Albatross.” The Tortured Poets Department also features two major collaborations: Post Malone, who is featured on the first album, “Fortnight,” as well as Florence + The Machine on track eight, “Florida!!!”

15 Apr 2024

Tems Announces Debut Album ‘Born in the Wild’

Tems announced her debut album Born in the Wild on Monday (April 15), one day after her Coachella performance, during which she brought out Wizkid and Justin Bieber to perform the Billboard Hot 100 No. 9 “Essence” remix.

The Nigerian singer-songwriter posted a one-minute visual teasing her album, which will be released in May. The clip presumably shows scenes from back home, with children running around the beach that evoke memories from Tems’ childhood.

“It’s all over the news, all over the news, I notice/ Under the sun, struggling to find my focus/ When I was young, younger than my mind as always/ Runnin’ away,” she sings before launching into the chorus with the album title. “BORN IN THE WILD. The Album. May 2024,” she captioned the clip on Instagram and X.

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Tems released two solo singles at the end of last year, “Me & U” and “Not an Angel.” She performed “Not an Angel” for the first time at Billboard Women in Music in March, where she also received the Breakthrough Award.

“I really want to use this opportunity to say to all the women in the room, in the world, that no matter what you’re going through, you should know you’re not alone. So even when you’re sad, even when you’re angry, there’s someone that’s angry, too. So uplift everybody around you because they need that like you and somebody’s there for you,” she said in her acceptance speech. “It’s the women that got the women, trust me.”

See her Born in the Wild album teaser below.

15 Apr 2024

The Kid Laroi Calls Tate McRae His ‘Girlfriend’ On Stage at Dublin Concert: Watch

The Kid Laroi just made things official. After months of rumors that he and Tate McRae are dating, the “Stay” singer confirmed to fans at his Sunday (April 14) show in Ireland that the Canadian pop star — who was watching from the wings — is his girlfriend.

The moment came between songs while Laroi was on stage, telling the crowd at 3Arena in Dublin, “I need everybody in here to sing this as loud as they can because my girlfriend’s here tonight, and I don’t want to look lame.”

Fan cameras then panned to stage left, capturing McRae giggling while watching the show from backstage. “If you guys don’t sing this really loud …,” the Australian artist added. “It’s going to embarrass me.”

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Billboard has reached out to reps for both Laroi and McRae for comment.

Laroi is currently overseas on the European leg of his The First Time Tour, supporting his 2023 debut album of the same name. The set debuted at No. 26 on the Billboard 200 and features collaborations with BTS’ Jung Kook, Central Cee, Future and more.

Fans have speculated for months now that he and the “Greedy” singer are an item, with the two 20-year-old musicians first sparking dating rumors earlier this year. The couple has stepped out for a few dinner dates in recent months and, while speaking to Billboard on the red carpet at the iHeartRadio Music Awards April 1, McRae laughed and covered her face when asked about whether she’d ever release a song with her beau.

“Maybe,” she said through giggles at the time. “He’s amazing.”

Watch the moment The Kid Laroi called Tate McRae his girlfriend below.

15 Apr 2024

Here Are the Best Photos From Coachella Weekend One 2024

Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival kicked off its first of two weekends on April 12 to 14, and as expected, this year’s star-studded lineup brought the heat to their performances.

Notably, No Doubt reunited to perform for the first time in nine years on Saturday night (April 13), delivering a mix of their most beloved hits, including “Don’t Speak” and “Just a Girl.” Olivia Rodrigo joined to perform “Bathwater” with Stefani, whom she’s openly expressed her admiration for throughout her career.

Other performers of the weekend included headliners Lana Del Rey, Doja Cat and Tyler, the Creator, as well as major artists like Shakira, Bebe Rexha, Sabrina Carpenter, J Balvin and more. The festival also included surprise appearances from Will Smith, Billie Eilish, Wizkid and Justin Bieber, among others.

Kesha joined Renee Rapp onstage to duet on her 2009 Hot 100 nine-week No. 1 “Tik Tok.” In response to a series of sexual misconduct allegations against Diddy, the pair changed the opening line to: “Wake up in the morning like ‘F— P. Diddy.’”

Coachella returns to the desert on April 19 to 21 for weekend two. In the meantime, check out our photos below from weekend one.

15 Apr 2024

Drake Receives Offer From Uma Thurman for Her ‘Kill Bill’ Suit Amid His Rap Beefs: ‘Need This?’

Drake is feeling like he’s being swarmed by opps in the rap game right now. As he asks on his leaked “Push Ups” diss track: “What the f–k is this a 20-v-1, n—a?”

The 6 God drew a line from his feuds to Hollywood when comparing his rap beefs to a photo of Uma Thurman (The Bride) in Kill Bill surrounded by enemies as she braces for a sword fight.

He posted the picture to his Instagram Story on Sunday (April 14), and Thurman got wind of the Drizzy shout-out.

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The 53-year-old actress responded through an Instagram Story of her own featuring a photo of the iconic suit from the movie, seeing if Drake had any use for it. “Need this? @champagnepapi,” she wrote.

Drake replied in a repost hours later: “Yes pls. The pen is the Hattori Hanzo.” That’s a reference from the film’s samurai sword producer.

As for the OVO mogul’s weapon of choice, he elects to use his pen, which helped him snipe at plenty of his adversaries in rap with “Push Ups.” The hard-hitting diss track leaked on Saturday (April 13) finds Drake appearing to target Kendrick Lamar, Future, Metro Boomin, The Weeknd and Rick Ross.

As Thurman’s post made the rounds on social media, Rick Ross continued to fan the flames of his feud with Drake, and chimed in on Instagram about the yellow suit, asking, “Think it fit me?”

Ricky Rozay didn’t waste any time with his response to Drake as he premiered his “Champagne Moments” diss track aimed at Drizzy with Akademiks on Saturday evening, just mere hours after Drake’s “Push Ups” hit the internet.

15 Apr 2024

Donald Glover Announces 2 Childish Gambino Albums Are on the Way

It’s been more than four years since the last Childish Gambino album, but Donald Glover appears to be set on ending the drought soon.

Glover hosted a Gilga Radio stream on Instagram Live with fans late Sunday (April 14), during which he announced a pair of Gambino projects on the way.

In March, the multi-hyphenate revealed plans for Atavista, which will serve as an updated version of his most recent Gambino album, 3.15.20.

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“We’re releasing Atavista, but after that, there’s the final Childish Gambino album, a soundtrack for the fans,” he said.

Per Stereogum, the Atlanta creator played three songs: an unreleased track, the leaked “Human Sacrifice” and “Little Big Foot,” which is a collaboration with Young Nudy and formerly known as “35.31” off the 3.15.20 album.

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The second album is an accompanying soundtrack to his forthcoming movie, Bando Stone & The New World. A radio ad was reportedly played during the stream teasing the project’s arrival this summer via RCA.

“My fans are great and have been so patient and are starving — this album is for you guys,” he said during the stream.

It was a busy weekend for Donald Glover as he popped out at Coachella on Saturday night (April 13) as a surprise guest during Tyler, the Creator’s headlining set. They performed IGOR‘s “Running Out of Time” together.

During the set, Tyler joked about how he used to hate the “This Is America” rapper until he made a song he loved. “I used to hate that n—a. Seriously. I don’t know why, I gotta go to therapy to figure it out,” he said to the crowd. “But this n—a put this song called ‘Urn’ out … I was at conflict with myself, like … How could a n—a I hate so much make something so good?”

Glover’s 3.15.20 album arrived at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic in March 2020. The project peaked at No. 15 on the Billboard 200 and featured guest appearances from 21 Savage, Ariana Grande and more.

Watch some highlights from the stream below.

15 Apr 2024

Loretta Lynn’s Granddaughter Sings Emotional Original Song on ‘American Idol’ on Late Icon’s Birthday

Emmy Russell is continuing on her late grandmother’s legacy — what could be a better birthday gift than that? Loretta Lynn‘s 25-year-old granddaughter stunned American Idol judges and viewers alike with a raw performance of an original song titled “Want You” on the show’s Sunday (April 14) episode, which aired the same day the legendary singer-songwriter would have turned 92. 

Taking the stage backdropped by a blue screen of heavenly clouds, Russell channeled the “Coal Miner’s Daughter” star in a puffy-sleeved, collared floral dress and boots. Assisted by a backup band, she delivered crystal clear vocals while singing her self-written lyrics: “I want you to want me like I want you/ I want you to need me like I need you/ If you’re gonna leave me, then cut me loose/ I want you to want me.” 

When cameras cut to the panel of judges, Katy Perry smiled, while Luke Bryan seemed mesmerized by the young hopeful’s moving performance. 

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After the performance, Lynn’s official Instagram account posted a photo of Russell and wrote, “What a birthday gift!”  

“Emmy was born on [Oliver “Doolittle” Lynn] and Loretta’s anniversary and now we have this milestone on Loretta’s birthday!” the caption continued. “Loretta told all who would listen that Emmy had something special and now the world is seeing for themselves.” 

The episode — which found this season’s top 20 contestants going head to head as the competition pool continues to be narrowed down — came exactly 92 years after Lynn was born in Butcher Hollow, Ky. A three-time Grammy winner, she remains one of country music’s most prolific songwriters and scored 42 top 10 entries on the Top Country Albums chart before her death at age 90 in 2022. 

Perry, Bryan and Lionel Richie were flabbergasted to find out about Russell’s famous lineage when the Nashville-based artist first auditioned for Idol, for which she performed another original song — “Skinny.” “My grandma’s a country singer so I grew up singing,” she told the judges at the time, with Richie exclaiming after the big reveal, “Your grandma is … what?!”  

“You’ve got the gift,” Perry told Russell after her audition. “I don’t think you need to compare yourself to what grandma was … you’re totally different, you shouldn’t give yourself all that pressure.” 

Watch Russell’s performance of “Want You” above, and see the post from Loretta Lynn’s Instagram below. 

15 Apr 2024

Victoria Monét Says ‘Stop the Hate, Stop the Genocides’ During Coachella Set

For the most part, day three of the opening weekend of the 2024 Coachella Festival was focused on a string of jaw-dropping surprise appearances by everyone from Justin Bieber to Kesha, Lauryn Hill and many more during a picture perfect Sunday of music and skin-baring cowboy chic.

But during her set, 2024 best new artist Grammy winner Victoria Monét injected some politics into the mix when she made a bold statement during her appearance at the Indio, CA fest. “Stop the wars, stop the hate, stop the genocides, stop motherf–ing hating,” Monét said from the stage according to fan video of the moment. “Live with love. Stop thinking so small. You need to be thinking big, b–ch. Think big, b–ch.”

Though Monét did not reference Israel, Gaza or the now seven-month-old war between the Jewish state and militant group Hamas, the singer has been a longtime vocal proponent of a ceasefire in Gaza. Following Hamas’ surprise Oct. 7 attack on Israel — in which more than 1,200 men, women and children were killed and sexually assaulted and more than 250 taken hostage — Israel unleashed a retaliatory wave of strikes on Gaza and the West Bank that Palestinian authorities have said has killed more than 33,000, many of them non-combatant women and children.

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Monét was one of the founders of the Artists 4 Ceasefire collective, which penned an open letter to Pres. Jo Biden in March urging him to call for an immediate ceasefire in the conflict; the letter was co-signed by dozens of fellow artists, including R.E.M.’s Michael Stipe, Dua Lipa, Killer Mike, Drake, Jennifer Lopez, Quinta Brunson, Rooney Mara, Jeremy Allen White, Jon Batiste, Frank Ocean, Zayn and many more.

While Monét did not directly attribute her use of the term “genocide” to Israel’s ongoing war against Hamas, the government of hard-right Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu has faced accusations that his country is participating in such an action in the wake of Israel’s devastating bombing campaign in the Palestinian territories. To date the war has resulted in the displacement of more nearly two million Palestinians, the destruction of more than 157,000 buildings in Gaza and an emerging food crisis that experts warn could result in widespread famine.

Last week, U.S. defense secretary Lloyd Austin told the Senate Armed Services Committee that “we don’t have any evidence of genocide being [committed]” by Israel in Gaza. In January, the top United Nations court ordered Israel to do everything it could to avoid acts of genocide in the war; Israel has repeatedly denied that it is acting with genocidal intent.

The issue has become a part of the American presidential campaign, with a chant of “Genocide Joe” favored by pro-Palestinian protesters getting adopted on Saturday by supporters of former president Donald Trump at his rally in Schnecksville, PA. After Trump once again offered his unconditional support for Israel just hours after Iran launched retaliatory drone and missile strikes against the country this weekend, the twice impeached one-term president responded to the “Genocide Joe” shouts from the crowd with the line, “They’re not wrong, they’re not wrong. He’s done everything wrong.”

Watch Monét’s call for peace below.