Music News

15 Feb 2024

Kanye West Clarifies Name-Dropping Taylor Swift on ‘Vultures’ Album

Kanye West is trying to lead with love as he clarified that name-dropping Taylor Swift on Vultures 1 standout “Carnival” came with no ill will. “I mean since Taylor Swift, since I had the Rollie on the wrist/ I’m the new Jesus b—h, I turn water to Cris,” he raps on the anthem.

West posted a photo to Instagram on Wednesday (Feb. 14) screenshotting a fan’s tweet calling for Swifties to support Beyoncé’s pair of singles to help block Kanye from debuting at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 with “Carnival.”

“WHEN I SAID THAT I’M THE NEW JESUS B—H I WASN’T EVEN THINKING ABOUT TAYLOR SWIFT THAT WAS A WHOLE LINE BEFORE BUT I APPRECIATE THE FREE PROMO,” he wrote.

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The Chicago-bred rapper — who now goes by Ye — went on to explain that he actually had Swift’s back when Scooter Braun purchased the masters to the pop star’s first six albums through a 2019 deal. (West dissed Braun on “Vultures,” with the rapper claiming that he had been intimate with the record exec’s wife in one lyric.)

“REMEMBER I WAS ON TAYLOR’S SIDE WHEN SCOOTER BOUGHT HER MASTERS BEHIND HER BACK,” he continued in his post. “SHE AND BEYONCÉ ARE BIG INSPIRATIONS TO ALL MUSICIANS WE ALWAYS SAY HOW BOTH SELL OUT TOURS AND MOVIES.”

Ye believes he’s been more “helpful” to Swift’s massive career as a pop titan than “harmful,” but wouldn’t exactly call himself an ally to the Swifties.

“ALSO, I’M SURE I’VE BEEN FAR MORE HELPFUL TO TAYLOR SWIFT’S CAREER THAN HARMFUL,” he added. “TO ALL TAYLOR SWIFT FANS I AM NOT YOUR ENEMY UUUM IM NOT YOUR FRIEND EITHER THOUGH LOL.”

Ye and Swift have a complicated history, to say the least. Their relationship is famously headlined by the infamous 2009 MTV Video Music Awards moment when the rapper crashed the stage during Swift’s acceptance speech to highlight Beyoncé’s video. He also took credit for making her “famous” on a The Life of Pablo track in 2016.

In the same IG post, West reflected on the turbulence of the last year caused by his antics and antisemitic remarks, which saw just about every brand associated with the rapper sever ties.

“LAST YEAR WAS INCREDIBLY CHALLENGING FOR ME, MY WIFE, MY CHILDREN, FRIENDS AND FAMILY. I’VE BEEN BANNED FROM HOTELS, KICKED OUT OF COMPANIES, AND EVEN NOT ALLOWED TO EAT IN SOME RESTAURANTS,” Ye penned. “EVERYONE SAW VULTURES 1 GET TAKEN OFF OF PLATFORMS TO LIMIT OUR FIRST WEEK NUMBERS. THIS REMINDS ME OF THE MISTREATMENT OF MY PEOPLE BECAUSE OF THE COLOR OF OUR SKIN.”

Even through all of the controversies, Yeezy is vying for what could be his 11th album earning the No. 1 spot atop the Billboard 200 after this week thanks to Vultures 1.

See West’s post below.

15 Feb 2024

Rihanna and A$AP Rocky Enjoy Romantic Valentine’s Day Date in Paris: See Photo

Rihanna and A$AP Rocky, as they do everything, spent their Valentine’s Day in style. To celebrate the day of love Wednesday (Feb. 14), the couple embarked on a date night in the most romantic city in the world: Paris.

Ri and Rocky enjoyed dinner at César in the French capital, according to People, wearing matching shades. The Fenty mogul sported a champagne-colored skirt and furry wrap, while the “Sundress” rapper stepped out in a brown corduroy jacket, pants and vest set.

The photos show the couple smiling and getting cozy in the restaurant.

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The “Umbrella” singer was also in Paris last month for fashion week, where she checked out a Christian Dior runway show.

This year’s V-Day is far from her and Rocky’s first time celebrating the holiday as a couple. The musicians — who share two young sons — have been an item since 2020. In 2022, the “Umbrella” singer shared photos of their Valentine’s celebrations, which featured a bouquet of Lego flowers and dinner with a view.

“Nerdz,” she simply captioned the photos at the time.

In January, while showing off her 2024 Savage X Fenty Valentine’s Day lingerie collection, Ri revealed that, when it comes to her boyfriend, quality time is her love language. “It’s a luxury around these parts, OK?” she said in an Instagram promo video. “I’m busy, big Daddy is busy, and any time someone can carve out a little bit of time for me, I feel really special.”

See a photo from Rihanna and A$AP Rocky’s romantic Valentine’s Day outing in Paris below.

Rihanna and Asap Rocky

Rihanna and Asap Rocky are seen out for Valentines day on Feb. 14, 2024, in Paris.

MEGA/GC Images

15 Feb 2024

Usher Said He Went Through a ‘Great Deal of Pain’ After TLC’s Chilli Turned Down His Marriage Proposal

Fresh off a Las Vegas wedding to his longtime girlfriend, Jenn Goicoechea, over Super Bowl Weekend, Usher is opening up about one of his first true loves in a new People magazine cover story. The singer, 45, spoke to the magazine about his intense romance with TLC’s Rozonda “Chilli” Thomas, whom the “Yeah!” singer met when he moved to Atlanta from his home in Chattanooga, TN as a teenager.

Describing himself as someone who “was always charming the older ladies,” Usher said he was smitten when he met Chilli, now 53, who was seven years older than him when they began dating in 2001. “If I am to be honest, I was her No. 1 fan, and she was my superstar,” he said, adding that he had Chilli’s poster on the wall of his childhood bedroom when he was eight-years-old.

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“[I] said, ‘Man that girl is so beautiful. One day I’m going to meet her,’” he recalled saying at the time. And though meeting the woman of his dreams and beginning a relationship with her was magical, Usher said the affair ultimately fizzled because of differing priorities. “I was a young man, and she had very specific rules that didn’t work for me,” he told People of the singer who starred in the videos for Usher’s hits “U Remind Me,” “U Got it Bad” and “U Don’t Have to Call.”

“We were missing each other. I really did want to have a different type of relationship where she was there with me, and she couldn’t be,” said Usher, who wowed the crowd at Allegiant Stadium in Vegas during Sunday’s Super Bowl LVIII halftime show. “She didn’t believe that I was actually in love with her as much as I was.”

Despite the difficulties, Usher said his plan to marry Chilli went sideways. “I proposed and she told me no. I went through a great deal of pain after that, not trusting women or wanting to open up,” Usher said. “I hurt her too,” he added, noting that the split also “broke my heart.” 

Usher, now married for a third time, and Chilli — who began dating actor Matthew Lawrence in 2022 — reportedly remained friendly after their split; Chilli previously told People that they were on-and-off for years after the break-up, reconnecting when they weren’t dating other people. But Usher told the mag that when it ended, he was done for good.

“We were cool with each other, but I was very careful with that,” he said. “I really did love that girl, and I was like, I don’t want to play with you. Like, ‘I can’t give you what I gave you. I did everything that I thought you would’ve wanted me to do, but I guess my good wasn’t great enough.’” But, he noted, these days the two are “cool with each other” and it’s “always light” when they see each other.

Usher dropped his new album, Coming Home, last week.  The 20-track collection boasts guest spots from BTS’ Jung Kook, Burna Boy, H.E.R. and more, and is expected to compete with Kanye West’s Vultures for the top spot on the Billboard 200 next week.

15 Feb 2024

PinkPantheress Is Billboard’s 2024 Women in Music Producer of the Year

In 2023, Billboard honored Rosalía as its first-ever Producer of the Year — and now, the baton has been passed to PinkPantheress.

As announced Thursday (Feb. 15), the 22-year-old Bath, England native will accept the 2024 Producer of the Year Award presented by Bose at the Billboard Women in Music Awards presented by Marriott Bonvoy on Wednesday, March 6. The ceremony will be hosted by Tracee Ellis Ross at the YouTube Theater at Hollywood Park in Los Angeles.

“We are thrilled to honor PinkPantheress as one of the most exciting young producers on the rise,” says Hannah Karp, Billboard’s Editorial Director. “Women are still seriously underrepresented among the producers making today’s top hits, so we’re grateful to our partners at Bose for helping spotlight talented artists like PinkPantheress who are producing and inspiring a new generation of women to get behind the boards, in addition to wowing fans their fans as performers on stage.”

Known for her ability to turn niche samples into viral dance-pop beats, PinkPantheress has been producing her own music since she first found fame on TikTok in 2021. In March 2023, she reached her highest peak to date on the Billboard Hot 100 with the No. 3 hit “Boy’s a Liar, Pt. 2” featuring Ice Spice. She executive produced her 2023 album Heaven Knows; to date, her full song catalog has registered 1.62 billion official on-demand U.S. streams, according to Luminate.

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This year, the “Pain” singer will embark on a solo tour as well as support Coldplay and Olivia Rodrigo on their respective treks.

PinkPantheress is one of several exemplary women being honored at the 2024 Billboard Women in Music Awards presented by Marriott Bonvoy. Karol G has already been announced as 2024’s Woman of the Year, and Kylie Minogue, Maren Morris, Ice Spice, Charli XCX, Young Miko, Victoria Monét, NewJeans, TEMS and Luísa Sonza will all receive awards at the show.

Tickets to attend Billboard Women in Music are available to the public, with prices ranging from $89-279. Fans can watch the show Thursday, March 7 at 5pm PT/8pm ET on billboardwomeninmusic.com; more details about the stream will be announced soon.  

15 Feb 2024

Shakira Announces New Album, ‘Las Mujeres Ya No Lloran’

Colombian superstar Shakira will release her first new album in seven years, Las Mujeres Ya No Lloran (Women Don’t Cry Anymore), on March 22. The singer’s upcoming LP also marks her debut release on vinyl, featuring four distinct artwork editions, each paired with an exclusive colored vinyl variant (See the different covers here).

“Making this body of work has been an alchemical process,” Shakira said in a statement. “While writing each song I was rebuilding myself. While singing them, my tears transformed into diamonds, and my vulnerability into strength.”

The title of the album is a nod to the empowering lyrics from her Bizarrap session “Bzrp Music Sessions, Vol. 53,” where she declared, “las mujeres ya no llora, las mujeres facturan,” which loosely translates to, “women don’t cry anymore, they make money.”

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Speculation about a new album began when Shakira posted on a short video on Sunday that began with a shot of a diamond followed by clips from her previously-released singles, including “Copa Vacía” with Manuel Turizo, her Bizarrap-produced music session and “Monotonía.”

“Stay tuned,” she instructed her more than 90 million Instagram followers.

Shak’s new album follows her 2017 set El Dorado, which spent five weeks at No. 1 on Billboard‘s Top Latin Albums chart, and included hit songs such as “Chantaje” with Maluma, “La Bicicleta” with Carlos Vives and the Prince Royce-assisted “Deja vu.”

Overall, the hitmaker has placed eight top 10 albums on the Top Latin Albums chart, six of those hit No. 1, including Dónde Están Los Ladrones? (1998), Fijación Oral: Vol. 1 (2005) and Sale El Sol (2010).

Last year, Shakira released back-to-back singles, including her hard-hitting “Bzrp Music Sessions, Vol. 53,” the aforementioned head-bobbing “Copa Vacía,” “El Jefe,” a riveting polka-tinged ska with Fuerza Regida, and her poignant ballad “Acróstico.”

Shakira had been mostly mum about her new album, but in a candid interview with Billboard for her September cover story, the global superstar — who is also a single mother to two young boys — shared why it had taken her six years to release a new album.

“The last time I released an album was six years ago. Now I can release music at a faster clip, although sometimes I think being a single mom and the rhythm of a pop star aren’t compatible,” she explained. “I have to put my kids to bed, go to the recording studio; everything is uphill. When you don’t have a husband who can stay home with the kids, it’s constant juggling because I like to be a present mom and I need to be there every moment with my children: take them to school, have breakfast with them, take them to play dates. And aside from that, I have to make money.”

15 Feb 2024

Jennifer Lopez Announces This Is Me… Now The Tour 2024 North American Dates

Jennifer Lopez is hitting the road this summer for her This Is Me Now… The Tour. On Thursday morning (Feb. 15), the singer announced the 30+ city tour in support of her new album, This Is Me… Now, which is due out on Friday (Feb. 16).

The North American outing is slated to kick off on June 26 with a show at the Kia Center in Orlando, before criss-crossing the nation for shows in Miami, San Antonio, Phoenix, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Las Vegas, Denver, Indianapolis, Pittsburgh, Detroit, Boston and Philadelphia, winding down with an August 31 gig at the Toyota Center in Houston.

The Live Nation-produced tour is Lopez’s first tour in five years and it will support both the album and the accompanying Amazon Original short film, This Is Me Now: A Love Story, also out on Friday. Tickets for the tour will be available starting with a JLo fan club presale beginning Feb. 20 at 9 a.m. local time, with Citi and Verizon presales beginning at 10 a.m. local time on Feb 20 through Feb. 22 at 10 p.m. local time; click here for more information on Citi presale and here for Verizon Up details. The general onsale will begin on Feb. 23 at 10 a.m local time here.

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In an interview this week, Lopez said her first studio LP since 2014’s A.K.A. is “the best album that I’ve ever made… The most honest and true – it took a long time for me as a musical artist to get there. I’m really happy and proud of this in a way that I don’t think I ever have been before.”

Lopez’s ninth album is a sequel of sorts to her 2002 This Is Me… Then collection, which she released when she was first dating Ben Affleck, to whom she is now married. “They’ve followed me on that journey and watched me make mistakes and go in and out of relationships and wondered what was going on,” JLo said about her fans.

Lopez and Affleck split in 2004, then reunited in 2021 and tied the knot in a surprise Las Vegas wedding in July 2022 – 20 years after the original album’s release. The new album also features a sequel to a track from the first This Is Me album, “Dear Ben Pt. II,” plus the previously released dance-y single “Can’t Get Enough.”

Check out the dates for Lopez’s This Is Me… Now The Tour below.

June 26 — Orlando, FL @ Kia Center

June 28 — Miami, FL @ Kaseya Center

July 2 — Austin, TX @ Moody Center

July 3 — Edinburg, TX @ Bert Ogden Arena*

July 5 — San Antonio, TX @ Frost Bank Center

July 6 — Dallas, TX @ American Airlines Center

July 9 — Phoenix, AZ @ Footprint Center

July 11 — Los Angeles, CA @ Kia Forum

July 13 — Anaheim, CA @ Honda Center

July 16 — San Francisco, CA @ Chase Center

July 17 — Sacramento, CA @ Golden 1 Center

July 19 — Palm Springs, CA @ Acrisure Arena

July 20 — Las Vegas, NV @ T-Mobile Arena*

July 22 — Denver, CO @ Ball Arena

July 24 — Tulsa, OK @ BOK Center

July 26 — Rosemont, IL @ Allstate Arena

July 27 — Indianapolis, IN @ Gainbridge Fieldhouse

July 30 — Pittsburgh, PA @ PPG Paints Arena

July 31 — Detroit, MI @ Little Caesars Arena

Aug. 2 | Toronto, ON @ Scotiabank Arena*#

Aug. 5 — Montreal, QC @ Bell Centre*#

Aug. 7 — Boston, MA @ TD Garden

Aug. 9 — Belmont Park, NY @ UBS Arena

Aug. 10 — Newark, NJ @ Prudential Center

Aug. 13 — Philadelphia, PA @ Wells Fargo Center

Aug. 14 — Washington, DC @ Capital One Arena

Aug. 16 — New York, NY @ Madison Square Garden

Aug. 20 — Cleveland, OH @ Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse*

Aug. 22 — Nashville, TN @ Bridgestone Arena

Aug. 24 — Raleigh, NC @ PNC Arena

Aug. 25 — Atlanta, GA @ State Farm Arena

Aug. 27 — Tampa, FL @ Amalie Arena

Aug. 30 — New Orleans, LA @ Smoothie King Center

Aug. 31 — Houston, TX @ Toyota Center*

*Verizon Up Presale Not Applicable | #Citi Presale Not Applicable 

15 Feb 2024

Karol G & Tiesto Celebrate Love in New EDM Banger ‘Contigo’: Watch

Karol G had three things to celebrate on Wednesday (Feb. 14): her 33rd birthday, Valentine’s Day and a new single. 

The Colombian superstar unveiled her new track, “Contigo,” her latest collaboration with Tiësto. This also marks the pair’s third effort together, following “Don’t Be Shy” (2021) and “Provenza (Remix),” part of Karol’s 2023 Mañana Será Bonito (Bichota Season) album. 

Marking a new Bichota era, “Contigo” is an all-Spanish-language track that fuses rhythmic Latin pop with electronic dance music, and also interpolates Leona Lewis’ 2007 classic “Bleeding Love.” Co-produced by Ryan Tedder, its lyrics focus on themes of love and acceptance, and its accompanying music video shows Karol’s support for the LGBTQ+ community by sharing the screen with Young Miko as her love interest.

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The “TQG” singer first teased part of the song’s lyrics on X, posting “No quiero nada si no es CONTIGO” (I don’t want anything if it’s not with you). She confirmed a new bop was coming during one of her concerts in Mexico’s Estadio Azteca over the weekend. 

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“My fans in Mexico City had a surprise for me, where they wrote the phrase on a gigantic banner, without them knowing it was part of my new single,” she wrote in her Instagram Story. “I got really emotional and couldn’t hold back from sharing the news that this song comes out on my birthday, Feb. 14. Thanks to everyone who got together for this surprise, and my team for helping them make this possible.” 

“Contigo” comes on the heels of Karol kicking off her Mañana Será Bonito Latin America tour and winning her first Grammy for best música urbana album. 

Check out the official “Contigo” music video below: 

15 Feb 2024

Todd Phillips Celebrates Valentine’s Day With New ‘Joker 2’ Pics of Lady Gaga and Joaquin Phoenix

Lady Gaga and Joaquin Phoenix look crazy in love in a new series of Joker: Folie à Deux set pictures posted by director Todd Phillips on Valentine’s Day. Philips shared three images from the upcoming DC sequel on Instagram — tagged to Gotham City, naturally — in which Phoenix’s Joker shares some quality time with Gaga’s Harley Quinn.

“Hoping your day is full of love,” Phillips wrote in the caption, along with the movie’s release date, Oct. 4. In the first image, Phoenix, in full horrifying Joker face paint, stands face-to-face with Gaga’s golden-haired Quinn. In a second look, Gaga smiles lovingly at a locked-up Phoenix, while a third image shows the pair dancing on a rooftop in their formalwear.

The latest images from the set of the closely-held film follow on the heels of a December post from Phillips that featured an image of Phoenix’s head seen through a prison door and another of the actor in his signature makeup and burgundy suit staring at Gaga, wearing a flower print dress and sporting dark hair.

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The film — which will be released five years after the $1 billion-grossing, Oscar-nominated original — will also feature Zazie Beetz (returning in her role as Sophie), Brendan Gleeson, Catherine Keener, Jacob Lofland and Harry Lawtey. A trailer has not yet been released and the film’s plot is still a mystery.

A year ago, also on Valentine’s Day, Phillips posted a close-up of Phoenix standing face-to-face with Gaga’s Quinn, who holds his face in her hands, with both sporting red paint-smeared faces as evidence of a passionate kiss.

Check out Phillips’ new pics below.

15 Feb 2024

Gwen Stefani Talks ‘Crazy’ No Doubt Reunion, Performs Romantic ‘Purple Irises’ With Blake Shelton on ‘Kimmel’

When No Doubt take the stage together at Coachella in April for their first show in nine years Gwen Stefani predicts it will be “crazy.” The band’s singer and solo star told Jimmy Kimmel on Wednesday night (Feb. 14) that she’s really looking forward to reuniting with her old mates bassist Tony Kanal, guitarist Tom Dumont and drummer Adrian Young, even though she’s sweating learning all the band’s songs all over again.

“It’s going to be amazing. I’m so excited and I think what is going to be hilarious is I know what’s going to happen,” Stefani predicted. “I’m going to get on stage and look around and just start cracking up. It’s just going to be like riding a bike. We’re going to be like, ‘What are we doing? We’re in the future right now.’”

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Stefani — who swooned onto the stage in a gauzy flower print silk jumpsuit with fluttering wings and a lace-up front and a blonde 1970s country queen bouffant hairdo — also revealed that the band has not even started rehearsing for the gig yet. And, in fact, she’s not even sure she knows all the lyrics to their songs. “I don’t remember them, no,” Stefani said. “Not at all. I think I’m going to have to learn like eight or nine.” She also accidentally revealed that the set list includes one of the first songs she ever wrote, “Different People,” from the band’s 1995 break-out album, Tragic Kingdom.

Stefani showed off a glittering new green gem ring Shelton got her for Valentine’s day and talked about the “magical” process of her hitting the studio with her husband to record their new country-tinged pop duet, “Purple Irises.” She said the track, which was originally supposed to be a solo single for her, turned into a duet when Shelton “made a little hint” that he wanted to be on it.

The couple then hit a stage flooded with purple irises to play the song, with Stefani swaying as she sang the swoony lyrics at Shelton as he strummed his acoustic guitar. “But if someone comes along and tries to love you like I love you/ Don’t know what I’d do, don’t wanna lose you/ If someone comes along and tries to take you, tries to make you/ Don’t let ’em change your mind,” they sang to each other on the chorus.

Watch Stefani talk No Doubt and perform “Purple Irises” below.


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



15 Feb 2024

Kansas City DJ Lisa Lopez-Galvan Dies Following Super Bowl Parade Shooting

Kansas City disc jockey Lisa Lopez-Galvan was killed in the shooting at the Chiefs’ Super Bowl parade.

In a statement on its Facebook page, KKFI 90.1 FM confirmed Lopez-Galvan’s death, remarking that the “senseless act has taken a beautiful person from her family and this KC community.”

Lopez-Galvan, a mother of two, co-hosted “Taste of Tejano” for KKFI since March 2022.

“It is with sincere sadness and an extremely heavy and broken heart that we let our community know that KKFI DJ Lisa Lopez, host of Taste of Tejano lost her life today in the shooting at the KC Chiefs’ rally. Our hearts and prayers are with her family,” the statement reads. “We encourage anyone who feels they saw something to reach out to law enforcement at 816 234 5111.”

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A followup message urges listeners, friends and family to “please keep our Lisa and the Lopez family in your prayers.”

A private mobile DJ for more than 15 years, the bilingual Lopez-Galvan played “for all types of crowds,” reads a statement from KKFI, carried “plenty of music knowledge” and was a lifelong music fan. “For Lisa music is life and a source of happiness,” reads her biog.

Earlier, officials reported that one person died and at least 21 others were wounded in the incident west of Union Station, which occurred towards the end of a parade in Kansas City, Mo, celebrating the Chiefs’ win in the Super Bowl last weekend. According to reports, police detained three suspects.

A statement from the Chiefs reads, “We are truly saddened by the senseless act of violence that occurred outside of Union Station at the conclusion of today’s parade and rally. Our hearts go out to the victims, their families and all of Kansas City.” All of the franchise’s players, coaches, staff and their families are said to be “safe and accounted for.”

Several hospitals in the area treated the wounded, including eight with “immediately” life-threatening injuries and seven with life-threatening injuries, according to the Kansas City Fire Department.

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