Music News

21 Feb 2024

Reunited Slayer, Motley Crue, Slipknot and Korn to Headline 2024 Louder Than Life Festival

Reunited thrash metal band Slayer will headline the second night of this year’s Louder Than Life festival in Louisville, KY. The band join fellow headliners Slipknot, Mötley Crüe and Korn at the event slated to take place at the Highland Festival Grounds at Kentucky Exposition Center on Sept. 26-29.

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The 10th anniversary of North America’s largest rock festival will also feature sets from Disturbed, Judas Priest, Five Finger Death Punch, Evanescence, Falling in Reverse, Breaking Benjamin, The Offspring, Staind, Till Lindemann, Chevelle, Dropkick Murphys, Halestorm, Gojira, Seether, In This Moment, Anthrax, Sum 41, Mastodon and Rage Against the Machine guitarist and solo act Tom Morello.

“We’re thrilled to announce that Slayer will be reuniting for an earth-shattering performance at Louder Than Life,” promoter Danny Wimmer of Danny Wimmer Presents said of the thrash icons who retired in 2019 after what they said at the time was their final tour. ”I was at their last show at The Forum in 2019 and have been working since then to bring them back to the Louder stage! With over 140 bands on five stages, we’re celebrating our 10th Louder Than Life with the biggest lineup yet!”

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Slayer — whose final lineup included original members guitarist Kerry King and bassist/singer Tom Araya along with drummer Paul Bostaph and guitarist Gary Holt — were also announced as headliners for this year’s Riot Fest on Wednesday (Feb. 21).

The 150 acts at Louder Than Life will set up on five stages at the festival that will also include a selection of Louisville’s best spirits and local cuisine and sets from Anthrax, Mastodon, Architects, Skillet, Clutch, Highly Suspect, Lorna Shore, Body Count, Spiritbox, Grandson, Nothing More, Sevendust, Jinjer, Poppy, Badflower, Starset, Sleeping With Sirens, Filter, Eagles of Death Metal, Juliette Lewis and the Licks, Marky Ramone Plays the Ramones Classics, Black Stone Cherry, PUP, Three 6 Mafia, P.O.D., Fozzy, Fugitive, Saosin, L.S. Dunes, Biohazard, Polaris, From Ashes To New, LIT and many more.

Single day and weekend GA admission along with Park Community VIP passes and information on new Loud Lounge Suites are on sale now here; Angel’s Envy Top Shelf VIP passes, RV and car + tent camping passes are already sold out.

Check out the 2024 Louder Than Life festival poster below.

21 Feb 2024

Jeezy Brings His Trap Hits to NPR for Soulful ‘Tiny Desk’ Concert: Watch

Jeezy is the latest rapper to grace NPR’s Tiny Desk stage as he delivered a concert that took fans on a memorable journey into the depths of the trap houses he once occupied via his decorated discography.

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The Snowman made his Tiny Desk debut on Wednesday (Feb. 21), which found Jeezy flanked by a group of violins, guitars and keyboards with Howard University students filling the room.

“Y’all could see how I got from there to here to Tiny Desk. I used to stand on a tiny porch, but if you stay with your dreams and stand on your business, you could get anywhere,” he said while providing the audience with words of inspiration to kick off the performance.

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Jeezy warmed up with Let’s Get It: Thug Motivation 101‘s “Standing Ovation” before moving into “Air Forces” and “Bottom of the Map” from his multiplatinum 2005 commercial debut, which reached No. 2 on the Billboard 200 with 172,000 album units sold in the first week.

He also reflected on his come-up. “‘Standing Ovation’ was something special to me because when I walked on that stage for the first time and got recognized for something I love, I couldn’t believe God was so good coming from my circumstances,” he shared. “And to see people applauding me for what I had been through meant the world, and that’s why I kept going and why I’m here today.”

The Atlanta trap pioneer moved into more dope boy TM:101 anthems with a soothing live band twist, such as “And Then What” and the Jay-Z-assisted “Go Crazy.”

Jeezy finished off with a poignant performance of “Everythang” from TM:103 Hustlerz Ambition.

“This has been Tiny Desk, this has been my story … Y’all keep this positivity going,” Big Sno said before signing off from NPR.

Watch Jeezy’s Tiny Desk concert in full below.

21 Feb 2024

Lionel Messi’s ‘Warm-Up’ Playlist Features Bad Bunny, Peso Pluma, Karol G, Grupo Frontera & More

Fans no longer have to wonder what Lionel Messi listens to before he takes the field. Just in time for his inaugural season with Inter Miami in the MLS, La Pulga has shared a playlist of his favorite tracks. Titled “Messi: The Warm-Up,” the football superstar’s playlist, revealed by Apple Music, includes hits from Bad Bunny, Peso Pluma, Karol G, Bizarrap, Grupo Frontera and more.

“Music has always played a significant role in my life, especially on match days,” Messi shares in the Apple Music playlist description. “Music calms my mind, helping me maintain composure and relaxation.”

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The 60-song playlist includes reggaeton hits such as “Despacito” by Luis Fonsi and Daddy Yankee, “Ay Vamos” by J Balvin and Karol G’s smash hit “Provenza.” It also reveals Messi’s taste for Mexican music, featuring songs from Carin León, such as “Según Quién” with Maluma, “Tiki Taka Toco” from Fuerza Regida and the 2023 hit “Ella Baila Sola” by Eslabon Armado and Peso Pluma.

It’s safe to say La Pulga is a fan of Grupo Frontera, as his playlist includes several of the band’s songs, including “No Se Va,” “un x100to” with Bad Bunny, “Bebe Dame” with Fuerza Regida and “TULUM” with Peso Pluma.

The playlist also features Latin music legends, including Celia Cruz’s “La Vida es un Carnaval” and Selena’s “Bidi Bidi Bom Bom,” as well as a handful of English-language songs such as Coldplay’s “Viva La Vida,” Rihanna’s “Don’t Stop the Music,” U2’s “Vertigo” and Drake’s “First Person Shooter” featuring J. Cole.

Messi also pays tribute to the diversity of Argentinian music, with hits ranging from Bizarrap’s “Music Sessions” featuring Young Miko, Quevedo, Milo J and Peso Pluma. The playlist also includes a bit of Argentine reggae with “Hijo” by Los Cafres, and cumbia with “Ya No Vuelvas” by Ke Personajes, La K’onga and Luck Ra.

“There’s no doubt that what Lionel Messi can do with a ball at his feet is otherworldly. But one thing that makes him just like the rest of us is his love for music, from Latin pop and rock to reggae and cumbia from his native Argentina,” reads the playlist’s description. “This exclusive playlist is inspired by the G.O.A.T (Greatest Of All Time) when he’s looking to concentrate.”

Listen to Leo Messi’s “The Warm-Up” playlist below:

21 Feb 2024

Watch PinkPantheress Sign a Fan’s Prosthetic Leg Onstage at Dublin Concert

PinkPantheress is only one night in to her Capable of Love Tour, but the trek is already a memorable one thanks to a fan with a prosthetic leg and a dream at the star’s kickoff show in Ireland Tuesday (Feb. 20). 

While the “Boy’s a Liar” singer was onstage at Dublin’s 3Olympia Theatre, one of her admirers apparently detached their prosthetic limb from below the knee and got help from others in the crowd in passing it to the stage, along with a request for an autograph. And though she seemed a little surprised, the Bath native was excited to make her mark on the prosthetic. 

“This is one of those things I don’t think many people will get to do,” she told the crowd before asking her stage crew for a pen. 

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After signing her name, PinkPantheress told the fan, “Thank you, queen … I hope that’s good; my handwriting is notoriously bad.” 

The “Nice to Meet You” musician later tweeted a photo of her holding up the prosthetic leg onstage and wrote, “yes honey.” She also shared a video of her striking a number of poses with a large Irish flag during the show and added, “love u ireland.” 

Next up, PinkPantheress will bring her tour to the U.K., Netherlands, France and Germany before heading overseas for a string of shows in North America. In July, she’ll join Olivia Rodrigo’s Guts World Tour for another sweep of the U.S. and Canada. 

As announced Feb. 15, the 22-year-old singer-songwriter is Billboard’s 2024 Producer of the Year. She and several other female musicians – including Woman of the Year Karol G, Charli XCX, Ice Spice, Maren Morris and more – will be honored March 6 at the Women in Music ceremony presented by Mariott Bonvoy and hosted by Tracee Ellis Ross at the YouTube Theater at Hollywood Park in Los Angeles. 

Watch clips from PinkPantheress’ kickoff show in Dublin below. 

21 Feb 2024

Pharrell Taps Tyler, the Creator to Design a Collection for Louis Vuitton

Tyler, the Creator has long looked up to Pharrell and what he’s been able to accomplish in music as well as the fashion world. Tyler himself has been designing clothes for well over a decade through his Golf Wang brand, and Skateboard P is giving him the opportunity of a lifetime.

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Pharrell, who serves as the men’s creative director at Louis Vuitton, tapped his “Cash In, Cash Out” collaborator to design a capsule collection for the iconic French fashion house.

“Tyler has been my close friend and collaborator for years and we’ve always connected on music and design,” Pharrell told GQ. “This collaboration is unique to Louis Vuitton because it’s a natural extension of our LVERS philosophy, building on our network of incredible artists and creatives. There are so many elements specific to Tyler built into these pieces and it’s been inspiring to see him hone in on his craft and collaborate with him for this Spring collection.”

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GQ got a first look at the colorful garments serving as the brainchild of Tyler, the Creator. The pieces will be available on March 21 as part of the LV Spring 2024 collection.

Dubbed the “Craggy Monogram,” the posh capsule includes an array of items that Tyler himself would sport, whether that be a baby blue V-neck knitted vest, pastel shoes or Bermuda shorts.

“My main focus was making things I would wear all the time,” he told GQ. “I dress the same in a meeting as I do a performance or grocery store trip, so hand drawing the monogram felt like the perfect balance to me.”

Tyler has a keen eye for accessories, and he didn’t hold back with his LV debut. There’s a collectible cereal bowl, as well as a leather golf bag with a Damier towel and club head covers for those hitting the links.

The Grammy-winning rapper, who has an affinity for trunks and boasts one of the rarest luggage collections of any celebrity, leaned into that by designing an entire set of trunks, including the biggest the fashion house has with the Courrier Lozine 110, which will retail for a staggering €68,000, which is approximately $73,560. There’s even one piece that comes equipped with a chess set for those who are ready to sit down for a game at any time or any place.

“The chessboard is one of the greatest things I’ve made and is definitely my favorite thing from the collection,” Tyler added to GQ. “The team was great to work with — it kinda felt like Big with Tom Hanks. P has always left a door open for me, but I still can’t believe this one.”

Find more photos from Tyler, the Creator’s Louis Vuitton collection — which will be available next month — below.

21 Feb 2024

LeAnn Rimes Joins ‘The Voice UK’ As 2024 Coach

LeAnn Rimes is doubling down on her role as a coach on two international versions of The Voice. The Grammy-winning country singer is currently in Sydney, Australia filming her role as a coach on the upcoming season of The Voice Australia and on Wednesday (Feb. 21) it was announced that she will also serve the same role on the next season of The Voice UK.

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“What an honor and rare opportunity it is to be asked to coach on both, The Voice Australia and The Voice UK,” Rimes said in a statement. “I’m looking forward to discovering new voices across these nations, mentoring the next generation of talent and sharing my heart, not only with these gifted vocalists, but with the Australian and UK fans. I have experienced so much love from both countries throughout my  career and I look forward to deepening that connection during my time on The Voice.”

Rimes will join a coaching panel for the UK version of the reality singing show that also includes returning cast members Will.i.am of the Black Eyed Peas, legendary British crooner Tom Jones and new coaches Danny Jones and Tom Fletcher of UK boy band McFly. For the Australian version, Rimes will sit alongside solo star and Queen singer Adam Lambert, singer Kate Miller-Heidke and returning coach “Battle Scars” singer Guy Sebastian.

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The dual role news comes after the “How Do I Live” singer closed out 2023 with a holiday tour that made stops in Las Vegas, Nashville, Orlando and other cities, followed by the November release of God’s Work (Resurrected), an extended version of her 2022 record God’s Work.  

21 Feb 2024

Olivia Rodrigo Feels ‘So Grateful’ After Ringing in 21st Birthday With Giant ‘Guts’ Cake

The Spicy Pisces is officially 21. And after celebrating her milestone birthday Tuesday (Feb. 20) with a huge birthday cake and a party with friends, Olivia Rodrigo shared her gratitude on Instagram. 

‘21!!!” the pop star wrote, sharing a photo in which she poses next to a five-tier “spill ur guts” cake frosted with her signature red and purple colors. “so grateful for all of the incredible things I’ve been able to experience so far and so excited for all the good times ahead???”  

Rodrigo also included a video of her getting showered by dozens of balloons falling from the ceiling, as well as a childhood snap in which she stands in an elementary school classroom wearing a handmade “Happy Birthday” hat. She added in her caption, “thx 4 all the love?” 

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The day prior, the “Drivers License” singer marked her “last day of being able to underage drink (hypothetically)” on Instagram, sharing pictures with Tate McRae, The Kid LAROI, Finneas, Madison Hu, Iris Apatow, Conan Gray and more friends at a party. The pre-birthday festivities also featured some b-day cake, this time with funfetti sprinkles and tall candles. 

Fittingly, Rodrigo has since unveiled a limited edition “Spicy Pisces” shot glass for sale on her online merch store. 

The former Disney star’s birthday caps off a pretty spectacular 20th year of life, during which she performed on Saturday Night Live, attended her third Met Gala, picked up six Grammy nominations and released her sophomore LP Guts, which debuted atop the Billboard 200. Just days prior to turning 21, Rodrigo won both song (“Vampire”) and album of the year at the 2024 People’s Choice Awards. 

She is now gearing up to launch her GUTS World Tour, which kicks off Friday (Feb. 23) at the Acrisure Arena in Palm Springs. The trek will mark Rodrigo’s first-ever arena tour and will see the star traveling through North America and Europe before closing out with a four-night run at the Kia Forum in Inglewood, Calif. 

21 Feb 2024

Offset Tells Cardi B to ‘Stop Being Scary’ and Drop Her New Album

Hip-hop fans have been waiting for Cardi B‘s next album for more than five years. And while the “Bongos” rapper has repeatedly teased that the follow-up to her smash 2018 major label debut, Invasion of Privacy, is just around the corner, as of now there is still no information or release date out there.

The tease has been going on for so long that even estranged husband Offset is getting antsy for the world to hear Cardi’s next musical move. According to HipHopDX, on Monday the Migos MC posted a video on his Instagram Stories in which he hyped Cardi’s new music while encouraging her to hurry up and let it loose.

While ‘Set was bobbing his head and clearly vibing to the music with a satisfied stank face visible beneath his black hoodie, the video had no audio, so viewers were left to their imagination in interpreting the caption. “Stop being scary and drop the album” it read, along with “s–t goes crazy [fire emoji].”

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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 pictured together at a restaurant in Miami Beach on Valentine’s Day.

For her part, Cardi has continued to tease out hints about her new album, including in November when she asked fans if she should drop a new video before the end of the year. “ I don’t know. Maybe I should just put a lil’ something something out before the year ends,” she said at the time. “Would y’all mind if I just do, like, a video? If I do a music video that’s just probably in my kitchen because I don’t really have nothing planned for, like, right now. I don’t know. I’ll think about it by the end of the day. I don’t know. I just feel like I gotta talk my s–t a little bit. You know what I’m saying?”

In the end, she didn’t release anything new and at press time there is still no information about when the Bardigang might get fresh tracks.

21 Feb 2024

Hot 100 First-Timers: North West & Bump J Debut With Features on Kanye West & Ty Dolla $ign’s ‘Vultures 1’

North West and Bump J are both officially Billboard Hot 100-charting artists thanks to their featured appearances on Ye (formerly Kanye West) and Ty Dolla $ign’s new album, Vultures 1. The set by the pair debuts at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 (dated Feb. 24) with 148,000 equivalent album units earned in the U.S. in its opening week (Feb. 9-15, following its Feb. 10 release), according to Luminate.

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North West is featured on the album’s “Talking,” which debuts at No. 30 on the Hot 100 with 12.33 million official U.S. streams.

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At just 10 years old, North, the eldest child of Ye and Kim Kardashian (who divorced in 2022), is now one of the youngest acts ever to reach the chart. Among other precocious charted talents, Jay-Z and Beyoncé’s daughter Blue Ivy Carter hit the Hot 100 at just 7 years old in 2019, thanks to her featured turn on Beyoncé, Saint Jhn and Wizkid’s “Brown Skin Girl.” She made her overall chart debut just after making her debut in the world, as her coos are heard on Jay-Z’s “Glory,” featuring B.I.C. (her initials). The song hit Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs in 2012, making her the youngest billed artist ever on any Billboard chart.

“Talking” isn’t just North West’s first entry on the Hot 100, but on any Billboard list. She also debuts at No. 32 on the Emerging Artists chart.

As for Bump J, the Chicago rapper hits the Hot 100 for the first time thanks to his featured credit on Ye and Ty Dolla $ign’s “Vultures,” also featuring fellow Chi-Town rapper Lil Durk. The song debuts at No. 34 with 12.28 million streams.

Bump J (real name Terrance Boykin) has been releasing music for more than two decades. After releasing multiple mixtapes, he signed a deal with Atlantic Records in 2005 and released his solo single “Move Around,” which Ye produced. The track reached No. 91 on Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs in March 2005. His career was detoured in 2007 when he was arrested for an armed robbery. He was sentenced to 10 years in prison in 2009 and was released through a plea deal in 2017.

Since then, he’s released two full-length projects: 606 God in 2018 and I Don’t Feel Rehabilitated in 2019. Plus, he teamed with Chicago rapper G Herbo in 2017 for “Crown” and again in 2021 on “Revolutionary,” also with Hit-Boy. The latter track is from Judas and the Black Messiah: The Inspired Album, which hit No. 1 on the Soundtracks chart and No. 12 on the Billboard 200.

21 Feb 2024

Usher Reveals 2024 Super Bowl Halftime Show Featured Tons of Easter Egg Tributes to R&B Icons You Probably Missed

Taylor Swift isn’t the only one who’s expert at sprinkling Easter eggs all over the place. In an interview with The Breakfast Club on Monday, Usher said that his Super Bowl LVIII halftime performance was packed with subtle nods to a number of his R&B favorites, many of which you may have missed.

While you probably spotted the empty drum kit that served as an homage to late drummer Aaron Spears, Usher said there were many more subtle nods. “What you don’t realize is that there are so many gems you have yet to unlock. You only caught one,” Usher told Charlamagne Tha God after the co-host noted that Ush paid homage to Michael Jackson’s dance moves during the 13-minute career retrospective.

“You caught Michael. Did you catch Marvin [Gaye]? Did you catch the back leg pop for James Brown?,” Usher asked, adding that his shirtless bit was a nod to Bobby Brown and his tank top was a tribute to R&B icon Teddy Pendergrass. Among the other superstars Usher said he alluded to were Luther Vandross and a “piano moment” that was a tip to Roberta Flack and Donny Hathaway.

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“I’m delivering in all things that I do when I bring the culture of what I am and what has made me who I am everywhere I go, even right now,” Usher said, adding that he also slipped in allusions to Ron Isley, the Gap Band, the Jackson 5, Zapp and Earth, Wind & Fire. “If you go back, it’s an entire education that’s happening right in front of your eyes.”

Before the Super Bowl set, Usher, 45, told GMA that he planned to use his time on the biggest night in TV to pay homage to Black artists who paved the way for him. “I think about what our country has kind of represented for Black artists, you know, having to at some point go through kitchens to even be able to perform for an audience, but they had to leave back through that same door, fear for their lives as they went to the next state to do the same thing,” he said. “So I’m coming through the front door with this one.”

The singer told GMA that he was well-aware that he didn’t start where he is now and didn’t get to the Super Bowl stage by himself. “So, everybody that has been a part of it, I’m carrying them with me. All of my fans, my loved ones, the people who may have felt like they have been forgotten, they haven’t. I’m carrying you right with me when I walk on that stage that night,” he said before taking the stage during the break in what became the Kansas City Chiefs’ third Super Bowl win in the past five years.

See Usher’s Breakfast Club interview below.