Music News

11 Apr 2024

Lil Nas X Posts Fiery ‘Right There’ Track on SoundCloud in Latest ‘Nasarati 2’ Preview

Lil Nas X has been teasing his upcoming Nasarati 2 mixtape for several months via snippets and previews of songs from his follow-up to his original 2018 Nasarati tape. On Wednesday (April 10) he posted a full new song on SoundCloud, “Right There,” a heater produced by Ojivolta on which Montero drops rapid-fire verses over angelic, gospel-like female backing vocals.

“Hol’ up, lil’ b–ch, what you need? What you need?/ I need a n–ga with loose-lick hips/ I need a model with some big, fake lips/ I just did X in the bathroom stall/ On a B-list star, gettin’ my A-list round/ I’m JK like I’m next to LM/ I’m so drunk that my shit went limp, ayy, ayy/ Pour me some Henny,” he raps on the track with a bare-bones beat that he first previewed in an Instagram Story in February — before deleting it — then again in a tweet.

Later in the song, he gets in his self-referential bag once more, rhyming, “Big Nas, come get that work/ Montero, these hoes gon’ flirt/ Lost and found, I can’t find my shirt/ Montero just popped that Perc/ This feel like God in church/ This scripture a Bible verse/ Buss it open and make it/ Buss it open and make it twerk.”

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The full track was unleashed a day after the MCs 25th birthday and a month after X previewed another unreleased song with typically provocative lyrics. “My big sis just had another baby, popped him out the labia/ My other nephew sitting in class with a broken nephew, he had to beat a n—a ass for talking about his uncle,” he rapped on the unnamed track. “Now listen, I ain’t saying I condone that sh–/ F— it, I’m saying I condone that sh–,” Nas X raps.

X has been honest about his struggle to choose songs over his fear about fans’ perceptions of his music, previously writing on Instagram, “Been hoarding music for years smh i hate my relationship with fear of my songs not doing well and perception. i wish i could just release music and not give af.” At the same time he dumped a handful of snippets on fans to gauge their reaction and possibly guide his track-picking.

Listen to Lil Nas X’s “Right There” below.

10 Apr 2024

J-Hope’s ‘Hope On the Street, Vol. 1’ Bows at No. 2 on Top Album Sales Chart

J-Hope notches his second top 10-charting effort on Billboard’s Top Album Sales chart (dated April 13), as Hope On the Street, Vol. 1 bows at No. 2. He previously visited the region with Jack in the Box in 2023, which debuted and peaked at No. 2.

Hope On the Street, Vol. 1 is one of five debuting titles in the top 10 on the latest chart, as it’s joined by Beyoncé’s Cowboy Carter (No. 1), Sum 41’s Heaven :X: Hell (No. 5), Aaron Lewis’ The Hill (No. 5) and mgk and Trippie Redd’s collaborative set Genre: Sadboy (No. 7).

Billboard’s Top Album Sales chart ranks the top-selling albums of the week based only on traditional album sales. The chart’s history dates back to May 25, 1991, the first week Billboard began tabulating charts with electronically monitored piece count information from SoundScan, now Luminate. Pure album sales were the sole measurement utilized by the Billboard 200 albums chart through the list dated Dec. 6, 2014, after which that chart switched to a methodology that blends album sales with track equivalent album units and streaming equivalent album units. For all chart news, follow @billboard and @billboardcharts on both Twitter and Instagram.

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Cowboy Carter gallops onto the chart with 168,000 copies sold in the U.S. in the week ending April 4, according to Luminate. Of that sum, physical sales comprise 125,500 (63,500 on CD and 62,000 on vinyl) and digital download sales comprise 42,500.

Cowboy Carter’s sales were supported by the album’s availability across a number of configurations, released on March 29. It was issued as standard 19-track edition on vinyl (across four variants, each pressed on different color vinyl [black, red, white and blue] with alternate back cover artwork), a CD with an additional song (“Flamenco”) and a digital download and streaming edition (both in clean and explicit versions, with three bonus songs “Flamenco,” “Spaghetti” and “Ya Ya,” plus two interludes). The CD edition was issued in four variants (each with different back cover art). Two of the variants were sold as stand-alone items, while two of the CDs were only available inside two deluxe boxed sets (each with a different branded T-shirt contained inside a branded box). All physical configurations of the album were sold exclusively through Beyoncé’s official webstore, while the digital download and streaming editions were widely available.

The vinyl edition of Cowboy Carter sold 62,000 copies (across its four variants combined), marking Beyoncé’s biggest week on vinyl and the largest week for any vinyl album in 2024.

J-Hope’s Hope On the Street, Vol. 1 debuts at No. 2 on Top Album Sales, scoring the second top 10-charting effort for the singer. The set bows with a little over 44,000 copies sold in the tracking week. Of that sum, a little more than 38,000 were driven by CD sales. The album’s sales were supported by eight collectible CD editions (including exclusive variants for Target, Walmart and the Weverse store), all containing branded paper merchandise.

A pair of former No. 1s from Taylor Swift follow J-Hope, as Lover rises 7-3 (10,000; up 8%) and 1989 (Taylor’s Version) bumps 5-4 (9,000; down 6%).

Sum 41’s Heaven :X: Hell starts at No. 5 with a little over 7,000 sold, marking the fifth top 10-charting set and highest-charting effort ever for the act. The set’s sales were bolstered by its availability across eight vinyl variants, which combined to sell nearly 4,000 copies – the act’s best sales week on vinyl.

Aaron Lewis’ The Hill debuts at No. 6 with just under 7,000 sold – mostly from sales of its digital download album (about 4,000). It was also available as a standard CD and in two vinyl variants. The Hill is the fifth top 10-charting set for Lewis.

The first collaborative album from mgk and Trippie Redd, Genre: Sadboy, starts at No. 7 with nearly 7,000 sold (largely from its digital download). It’s the seventh top 10 for mgk and sixth for Trippie Redd.

Closing out the top 10 on Top Album Sales are three former chart-toppers: Swift’s Folklore (13-8 with nearly 6,500; down less than 1%), Ariana Grande’s Eternal Sunshine (10-9 with just over 6,000; down 19%) and TWICE’s With YOU-th (12-10 with 6,000; down 15%).

In the week ending April 4, there were 1.343 million albums sold in the U.S. (up 11.9% compared to the previous week). Of that sum, physical albums (CDs, vinyl LPs, cassettes, etc.) comprised 997,000 (up 11.8%) and digital albums comprised 346,000 (up 12.1%).

There were 518,000 CD albums sold in the week ending April 4 (up 21.4% week-over-week) and 475,000 vinyl albums sold (up 2.9%). Year-to-date CD album sales stand at 6.173 million (down 32% compared to the same time frame a year ago) and year-to-date vinyl album sales total 6.425 million (down 48.9%).

Overall year-to-date album sales total 16.883 million (down 36.9% compared to the same year-to-date time frame a year ago). Year-to-date physical album sales stand at 12.661 million (down 41.9%) and digital album sales total 4.221 million (down 15.1%).

10 Apr 2024

Megan Thee Stallion’s ‘Rebirth’ Takes Center Stage on Upcoming Album

Megan Thee Stallion is looking at her third album as a “rebirth” for herself as she continues exploring her next era of music.

The Houston Hottie posed nude for the cover of Women’s Health on Wednesday, (April 10) where she teased what fans can expect with her upcoming project.

“I was inspired to create this album about rebirth because I feel I am becoming a new person physically and mentally,” she said of shedding her old skin.

Meg expanded on the snake motif and serpentine theme she’s deployed on her single titles with “Cobra” and the Hot 100-topping “Hiss.” “They’re feared, misunderstood, respected, healing,” she said.

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In the past, the 29-year-old has struggled with combining vulnerability with music that’s still hard-hitting and staying true to herself.

“I’ve always struggled to figure out how to be vulnerable and still make music that is going hard at the same time,” she added. “I’m getting into a better space with making music that is still true to myself but also true to my message. I am very much a flower, but my flower has thorns.”

Women’s Health 2024 Body Issue: The Rebirth of Megan Thee Stallion

Megan Thee Stallion on the cover of Women’s Health 2024 Body Issue.

Ramona Rosales for Women’s Health

Her forthcoming album will be the first to arrive since Tory Lanez was sentenced to a decade behind bars last year in the 2020 case, in which the R&B singer shot the “WAP” rapper multiple times in the feet following an argument outside a Hollywood Hills house party S

“A lot of people didn’t treat me like I was human for a long time,” she said. “I feel like everybody was always used to me being the fun and happy party girl. I watched people build me up, tear me down, and be confused about their expectations of me. As a Black woman, as a darker Black woman, I also feel like people expect me to take the punches, take the beating, take the lashings and handle it with grace. But I’m human.”

It wasn’t until Megan started therapy which she credits for jumpstarting her healing process. The Houston native works out four to five times a week with a regimen that includes the gym, pilates and beach exercises.

“Before I went onstage, I would be crying half the time because I didn’t want to [perform], but I also didn’t want to upset my fans,” she admitted. “I didn’t want to get [out] from under the covers. I stayed in my room. I would not turn the lights on. I had blackout curtains. I didn’t want to see the sun. I knew I wasn’t myself. It took me a while to acknowledge that I was depressed. But once I started talking to a therapist, I was able to be truthful with myself.”

Megan Thee Stallion’s last album, Traumazine, arrived in August 2022 and debuted at No. 4 on the Billboard 200.

Check out Megan Thee Stallion grace the cover of Women’s Health below.

Women’s Health 2024 Body Issue: The Rebirth of Megan Thee Stallion

Ramona Rosales for Women’s Health

10 Apr 2024

50 Cent, DJ Premier, Chuck D & More React to DJ Mister Cee’s Death

The hip-hop world is in mourning following the tragic loss of DJ Mister Cee. Hot 97 reported on Wednesday (April 10) that Mister Cee — born Calvin LeBrun — passed away at the age of 57. His cause of death is not yet known.

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Born and bred in Brooklyn, Mister Cee served as the official DJ for Big Daddy Kane and he’s perhaps best known for discovering the iconic The Notorious B.I.G. Also known as The Finisher, Cee is credited as an executive producer on Biggie’s legendary 1994 debut Ready to Die.

In an interview with Rock The Bells last year, DJ Mister Cee crowned his Best of Biggie mixtape as his favorite in his decorated career. “That mixtape changed my life. It changed everything. My brand, my life,” he said.

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Plenty of tributes and heartfelt condolences have poured in from around the hip-hop community. Mister Cee played a role in helping elevate the careers of local artists such as 50 Cent, who showed Cee love following news of his shocking passing.

“R.I.P to the legend MR. Cee God bless him, to all his family and friends I send my condolences,” the G-Unit mogul wrote to X.

DJ Premier saluted Cee: “Damn! Endless memories in this HIP HOP CULTURE. REST PEACEFULLY TO THE FINISHER… DJ MISTER CEE LOVE YOU BRO!”

While fellow New Yorker and Public Enemy frontman Chuck D added: “Rest In Beats my man. A good dude to the fullest. @djmistercee.”

DJ Mister Cee spent 21 years working at Hot 97 and helming his storied Throwback at Noon segment. He greatly impacted those who worked alongside him at the station.

“We have lost the iconic Mister Cee,” Peter Rosenberg wrote. “I listened to him yesterday and am in complete shock. He was a dear friend to all of us, a wonderful man, and one of the most important and impactful DJs of all time. I love you Cee.”

Jay-Z even gave Mister Cee a shout-out on 2009’s “D.O.A.” alongside DJ Funkmaster Flex. “I made it just for Flex and Mister Cee, I want n—-s to feel threatened,” he raps.

Mister Cee is credited with introducing Fetty Wap to the Metropolitan area when he was one of the first to play his now-certified-diamond anthem “Trap Queen” on the Hot 97 airwaves during the summer of 2014.

Billboard sends its condolences to Mister Cee and his loved ones. Check out more reactions to his passing below.

10 Apr 2024

Chris Martin’s Son Is His Lookalike in 18th Birthday Photo

Gwyneth Paltrow and Chris Martin’s son Moses turned 18 years old earlier this week (April 8), and the Shakespeare in Love actress took to Instagram to celebrate her child’s birthday.

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“Happy 18th birthday to you, my son,” she wrote alongside a photo of Moses, looking exactly like his father as he gives a soft smile to the camera. “I am so proud of who you are. I love your sensitivity and brilliance and quiet humor. I admire how deep you go into areas that interest you, becoming an expert in synths from the 80’s and the French new wave.”

Paltrow continued, “I love how much you love the people you love, but also how internal you are. There is such a magnificent world of ideas and harmonies inside that beautiful head of yours. I am unbelievably proud of the person you are today, as you cross over the threshold into adulthood. I love you more than words can say, @mosesmartin you absolutely kill me.”

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Paltrow and Martin married in December 2003 and remained together until 2014. The pair, who aside from Moses are also parents to 19-year-old daughter Apple, announced their separation in a joint statement about their mutual decision to “consciously uncouple.” 

In a November 2023 interview with People, Paltrow revealed that she and the Coldplay singer spoke with friends and family members that have been through divorce, and used those experiences — such as the parents not sitting with each other at graduations, or not coming inside to pick the kids up — to navigate their own separation.

“Those were the things that really hurt the kids,” Paltrow explained. “And so Chris and I just said, ‘Let’s just never do that and let’s try to get through the hard part of this and remember our friendship.’”

10 Apr 2024

New Colors of the Ray-Ban Reverse Collection Land Only at Sunglass Hut

Ray-Ban is once again innovating eyewear with its latest collection: the Ray-Ban Reverse collection. This cutting-edge collection redefines eyewear design with its revolutionary inverted lens concept and there’s no better place to experience the collection first-hand than at Sunglass Hut.

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Launched in 2023, the Ray-Ban Reverse collection represents a bold departure from conventional sunglasses. By shifting from traditional convex lenses to concave lenses, Ray-Ban has created a disruptive design that challenges the norms of eyewear. Now, with new colorways and a collaboration with the legendary musician and style icon Lenny Kravitz, the Ray-Ban Reverse collection is set to captivate fashion enthusiasts and trendsetters alike.

At the heart of the Ray-Ban Reverse collection lies the classic aviator shape, originally designed for U.S. pilots in 1937. This timeless silhouette has been reimagined for the modern wearer, with new color options and special editions that bear the signature of Kravitz himself.

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Whether you’re drawn to the sleek Black Aviator Reverse, the stylish Chrome Aviator Reverse, or the limited Rose Gold Aviator Reverse each pair is a statement piece that exudes confidence and style.

But the innovation doesn’t stop there. This year, Ray-Ban introduced washed lenses to the Ray-Ban Wayfarer Reverse collection, embodying a vintage look and feel that’s perfect for those who appreciate retro-inspired fashion. With their lightly sanded surface and faded tint effect, these lenses offer a unique twist on classic eyewear, providing both style and substance.

As you embark on your journey to discover the Ray-Ban Reverse collection, there’s no better place to start than at Sunglass Hut. Find your nearest Sunglass Hut using the Store Locator and experience Ray-Ban Reverse firsthand. With its unparalleled selection of Ray-Ban frames and expert staff ready to assist you, Sunglass Hut offers an unmatched shopping experience that’s sure to leave you feeling confident and stylish.

10 Apr 2024

Mister Cee, Legendary New York DJ, Dies at 57

Calvin LeBrun, better known as the legendary DJ Mister Cee has passed, according longtime employers Hot 97 and WLBS.

Known as “The Finisher,” Mister Cee has been a fixture on New York City radio waves for over 25 years, helming the “Throwback at Noon” block on Hot 97 where he played classic old school hip-hop records. Most recently, he took over the same noon time slot on NYC’s 94.7 The Block, where he would also play classic hip-hop and R&B songs.

LeBrun got his start when he met Big Daddy Kane at Brooklyn’s Sarah J. Hale High School and eventually started DJ’ing for the rap legend. He was featured on Kane’s debut album Long Live the Kane on the track “Mister Cee’s Master Plan” where he can be heard scratching on the record.

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However, Mister Cee’s claim to fame wasn’t being Kane’s DJ or even being a member of the legendary Juice Crew, it was for helping discover arguably the greatest rapper of all time in the Notorious B.I.G. The Finisher was introduced to Biggie by his friend DJ 50 Grand and passed along Big’s demo tape to Matty C over at The Source magazine which eventually got the Brooklyn MC into the magazine’s influential Unsigned Hype column. It was his inclusion in that column that led to a meeting with with Bad Boy Records’s Puff Daddy. And the rest, as they say, is history.

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Younger generations may remember Mister Cee from his appearance in Grand Theft Auto IV where he played the co-host of The Beat 102.7 along with DJ Green Lantern.

LeBrun’s cause of death has not been revealed. He was 57 years old.

10 Apr 2024

Frankie Grande Thanks Ariana Grande for Supporting Him on ‘Sobriety Journey’: ‘Best Sister in the World’

Ariana Grande is a gifted vocalist, songwriter and actress, but before she was any of those things, she was a great sister. To prove it, Frankie Grande posted a sweet tribute to his superstar little sis in honor of National Siblings Day on Wednesday (April 10), thanking her for standing by him — especially in the past six years as he’s worked to maintain a sober lifestyle.

Sharing a selfie with Ari, who makes a kissy face in the photo as the Big Brother alum grins at the camera, Frankie wrote, “I want to take a moment to thank the BEST sister in the world for being there for me through thick and thin.”

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“From helping me with my sobriety journey to showing up for me at big moments in my life and career,” he continued. “You are the best sister anyone could ask for and I’m eternally proud of you and all the sunshine you continue to spread in this world.”

Grande, whose Billboard 200-topping album Eternal Sunshine arrived last month, commented on the post, “my sweetest! i love you so so much.”

The Summoning Sylvia actor has been open about his struggles with sobriety in the past, telling Today‘s Hoda Kotb and Jenna Bush Hager in January that the 2017 terrorist attack at his little sister’s Manchester concert — which killed 22 fans in attendance and injured many more — was the original catalyst for his decision to quit using substances. “It was a rock-bottom moment,” he said. “I realized that I could not show up to help my family.”

See Frankie’s post about Ariana below.

10 Apr 2024

Ice Spice to Make Acting Debut in Spike Lee Film Starring Denzel Washington: Report

Ice Spice is taking her talents to Hollywood. The 24-year-old rapper is slated to make her acting debut in Spike Lee’s High and Low, according to Variety.

The movie stars Denzel Washington and serves as the English remake of Akira Kurosawa’s 1963 original courtesy of a partnership from Apple Original Films and A24.

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The project is set to hit theaters later this year before streaming on Apple TV+. It’s the fifth collab between Hollywood legends Lee and Washington — and their first reunion since 2006’s Inside Man.

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Filming has already begun but it’s unclear exactly what role Ice Spice — born Isis Gaston — will be playing. Todd Black is onboard as a producer, while Lee earns additional credits as an executive producer and co-writer for the script.

Billboard has reached out to Ice Spice’s reps for confirmation.

Ice Spice starred in a Super Bowl commercial for Starry at the top of 2024, but she’s looking to take her acting chops to the next level.

It’s shaping up to be another banner year for the “Munch” rapper, who is set to deliver her Y2K album in the coming months. The anticipated debut LP is still without a release date, but Ice Spice says she finished recording the project in March.

“I finished recording y2k the album ^.^,” she posted to her X and Instagram accounts last month. The LP’s title is inspired by her birthday, landing on Jan. 1, 2000.

“I think this is some of my best work,” Ice Spice also told Billboard, while hinting that “it’s not going to be too long — it’s going to be sweet and to the point.”

Ice is looking to carry her momentum after scoring four top 10 entries on the Billboard Hot 100 in 2023 alone, and she hopes to add to that total with her debut album.

10 Apr 2024

Babyface Announces Las Vegas Residency With Spoof of Nicole Kidman’s AMC Theaters Ad

Babyface is headed to Las Vegas, and he’s spreading the word in the best way possible.

The legendary R&B star announced Wednesday (April 10) — via a parody video of Nicole Kidman’s iconic AMC Theaters commercial — that he’s plotting a residency in Sin City with shows sprinkled throughout 2024.

In the clip, the “When Can I See You” singer re-creates almost every frame of the actress’ ad to a T, sporting a pinstripe pantsuit similar to the one she wears in the video played before every movie showing at all AMC locations in the U.S. “We come to this place for magic,” he recites, putting his own spin on Kidman’s oft-quoted monologue. “We go to the concerts to love, to cry, to care.”

According to Variety, Babyface will perform his own hits in addition to songs he’s helped write for other stars during the residency, taking the stage at Pearl Concert Theater at Palms Casino Resort on May 25 and 26, Aug. 31, Sept. 1 and Nov. 8 and 9. “I’ll see you in Vegas,” he adds in his spoof. Let’s time travel together.

Sharing the video to his Instagram, the 65-year-old musician wrote, “I have recently been saying that listening to music or going to an old school concert is like time traveling.” “You know, it’s like hearing a certain song that takes you right back to the house where you grew up and your mom was Spring cleaning singing every word,” he continued. “It’s like smelling a certain dish and you’re sitting right back in your mom’s kitchen.”

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“With that being said, I would like to invite you all to Vegas to walk down memory lane with me and time travel together,” Babyface added.

The announcement comes over a year after the Indiana native dropped his latest album, Girls Night Out, featuring collaborations with Muni Long, Kehlani, Ari Lennox and more. The set peaked at No. 22 on the Top R&B Albums chart.

Watch Babyface’s AMC Theaters spoof above.