Music News

14 Feb 2024

‘Texas Hold ‘Em’ Producer Killah B Teases Beyoncé’s Country Era: ‘She’s on the Approach of Shocking the World’

Forget yeehaw, it’s all about Bey-haw now! During the Super Bowl (Feb. 11), Beyoncé teased new music — in a glitzy Verizon commercial, no less — and by the time the Chiefs won, two new singles had appeared on streaming platforms. One of the new tracks, “Texas Hold ‘Em,” released alongside the plaintive “16 Carriages,” is already sending country radio into a tailspin, and producer Killah B is hinting that it’s just the tip of the iceberg.

“Let’s just say she’s on the approach of shocking the world,” Killah B said in response to TMZ‘s inquiry of the possibility of guest artists on Beyoncé’s forthcoming album. “I’ll let your imagination decide what that means.”

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“Texas Hold ‘Em” and “16 Carriages” mark a stark genre pivot for the consummate pop star. After all, just two years ago, Beyoncé made history as the first Black woman to win the best dance/electronic album Grammy. She won that award — and three others — for her Billboard 200-topping Renaissance album. Serving as her seventh solo studio effort, Renaissance spawned a $579 million-grossing stadium tour, a box-office-topping documentary concert film, and a pair of Billboard Hot 100 top 10 singles — “Break My Soul” (No. 1) and “Cuff It” (No. 6). The album, which paid tribute to the Black queer roots of dance music and culture, was the first act in a trilogy announced by Beyoncé back in 2022.

Although a title for Beyoncé’s country record has yet to be revealed, the two new tracks are confirmed to be a part of Act II of the trilogy — and that’s essentially all fans know so far.

“Because the album hasn’t dropped yet, I can’t say and I don’t wanna ruin it,” Killah B replied when asked how many tracks would be on the LP. Once TMZ started naming potential collaborators — particularly one Taylor Swift — the “Texas Hold ‘Em” producer said, “You guys gonna have to wait and see!” with a cheeky grin.

14 Feb 2024

Killer Mike Jokingly Shoots Poly Shot With Taylor Swift: ‘Me and My Wife Need a Third’

Killer Mike visited The Daily Show on Tuesday night (Feb. 13) to talk about taking home three 2024 Grammy Awards for his deeply personal Michael album, as well as his arrest that night for what police said was a physical altercation with venue security.

But what host Jordan Klepper really wanted to know, though, was how Mike felt about gossip reports from that night alleging that Taylor Swift snubbed Celine Dion while accepting an award from the French Canadian pop icon for album of the year for Midnights. “Shouts out to Taylor, man,” Killer Mike, 48, said with gusto while offering props to Swift and her three-time Super Bowl champ Kansas City Chief tight end Travis Kelce.

“God—n, she won at the Grammys. Her boyfriend won the Chiefs,” he added before taking things in an unexpected, amorous direction. “If she’s into poly, me and my wife need a third. We’re trying to win again!” That prompted Klepper to wonder if Mike was feeling so powerful after his wins that he’d be up for fully embracing the polyamorous lifestyle.

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“I feel I could pull it off,” Mike said. “Only problem is my wife’s good with a gun. She doesn’t agree. But I’ll keep trying for all the men out there,” he promised with a raised fist of solidarity in the air.

While Mike said he could not talk about the specifics of the arrest, in an earlier statement he said, “I am better than OK. As you can imagine, there was a lot going and there was some confusion around which door my team and I should enter. We experienced an over-zealous security guard but my team and I have the upmost confidence that I will ultimately be cleared of all wrongdoing.”

Watch Mike on the Daily Show below.

14 Feb 2024

Nicki Minaj & Lil Uzi Vert’s ‘Everybody’ Tops Rhythmic & Rap Airplay Charts

There’s a double celebration on Billboard’s Rhythmic Airplay and Rap Airplay charts as Nicki Minaj’s “Everybody,” featuring Lil Uzi Vert crowns both lists, dated Feb. 17. The track, which samples Junior Senior’s 2003 dance hit “Move Your Feet,” is the rappers’ third collaborative single but first champ on either list.

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On Rhythmic Airplay, “Everybody” jumps from No. 3 to the top slot after an 11% gain in plays for the week of Feb. 2-8 that made it the most-played song on U.S. monitored rhythmic radio stations in that span, according to Luminate. With the ascension, Minaj captures her 12th No. 1 on the list and ties Beyoncé for the second-most among women in the chart’s history. Rihanna claims first place in that race, with 17 leaders.

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Here’s an updated list of the acts with the most No. 1s on the Rhythmic Airplay chart, which launched in 1992.

  • 39, Drake
  • 17, Rihanna
  • 13, Chris Brown
  • 13, Bruno Mars
  • 13, The Weeknd
  • 13, Usher
  • 12, Beyoncé
  • 12, Lil Wayne
  • 12, Nicki Minaj
  • 11, Doja Cat
  • 10, Post Malone

Featured act Lil Uzi Vert, meanwhile, gets their second Rhythmic Airplay No. 1, after their featured spot on Migos’ “Bad and Boujee,” which reigned for two weeks in 2017.

Switching to the Rap Airplay chart, “Everybody” rises from the runner-up spot with a 5% jump in audience in the Feb. 2-8 tracking window. As is the case on Rhythmic Airplay, “Everybody” evicts Jack Harlow’s smash hit “Lovin on Me,” from the summit. Harlow’s hit led for six weeks on Rhythmic Airplay and seven weeks on Rap Airplay, and slips to No. 2 on both lists. On the former, it sheds 7% in weekly plays, while losing 3% in audience on the latter.

Thanks to “Everybody,” Minaj achieves her ninth No. 1 on Rap Airplay, extending her record for the most chart-toppers among women. She moves to two ahead of runner-up Cardi B, who has seven leaders.

Here’s a refreshed rundown of the artists with the most No. 1s on Rap Airplay:

  • 43, Drake
  • 13, Lil Wayne
  • 10, Ye (Kanye West)
  • 9, Jay-Z
  • 9, Nicki Minaj
  • 7, 50 Cent
  • 7, Cardi B
  • 7, T.I.

For Lil Uzi Vert, meanwhile, “Everybody” puts a third Rap Airplay champ on their ledger. They previously reached No. 1 through a featured role on Migos’ six-week champ “Bad and Boujee” in 2017 and their own “Just Wanna Rock,” a four-week leader in 2023.

“Everybody” appears on Minaj’s latest studio album, Pink Friday 2, which was released last December. The track is the third collaborative single from Minaj and Lil Uzi Vert, following two previous Uzi-led hits with Minaj in the featured spot: “The Way Life Goes” peaked at No. 13 on Rhythmic Airplay and No. 14 on Rap Airplay, while “Endless Fashion” hit No. 10 on Rhythmic Airplay and No. 14 on Rap Airplay last year.

Elsewhere, “Everybody” wins a second week at No. 1 on Mainstream R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay through a 3% improvement in plays. It also inches 18-17 on Pop Airplay from a 10% gain in plays on mainstream top-40 stations. Thanks to the favorable momentum across multiple formats, the single pushes 12-10 on the all-genre Radio Songs chart. There, it added 7% in listenership to reach 40 million audience impressions in the tracking week.

14 Feb 2024

Ben Affleck’s Song That Jennifer Lopez Dunked on in Dunkin’s 2024 Super Bowl Ad Is Here: Listen

Underestimate The DunKings … at your peril! Jennifer Lopez may have drowned husband Ben Affleck‘s pop-star dreams in Dunkin’s 2024 Super Bowl ad, but the Oscar-winning actor is following his heart. The DunKings boy band — comprised of Affleck and fellow Boston boys Matt Damon and Tom Brady — dropped their track “Don’t Dunk Away at My Heart” on Wednesday (Feb. 14).

While catchy, it’s not hard to see why the Grammy-nominated singer declined to include her husband’s new music on her upcoming album This Is Me … Now, which is set to arrive Friday, Feb. 16. The ’90s tinged electronic track — we are talking boy bands, here! — doesn’t exactly have the most moving lyrics, (though they’re certainly a great brand tie-in. Check out some of them:

“Don’t treat me like a glazed/ The thought that drives me crazy/ Try to find the way to your love/
You crush me like a coffee cup/ ‘Cause now we’re back and on the scene/ Kiss the ring it’s The DunKings!”

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Or the outro, which goes, “Don’t be dunkin’ away at my heart no more/ I just can’t take it/ It really kinda hurts.”

But is that really Affleck, Damon and Brady singing on the track? It seems possible we may have another Milli Vanilli situation here.

“In the world of boy bands, it’s not about one shining star – it’s the harmony of the band that steals the spotlight! No leaders. No followers,” Dunkin’ tells Billboard. “There are no names on the back of these tracksuits, because for these guys, pop music is a team sport.”

Check out The DunKings’ full song below:

14 Feb 2024

Jason & Travis Kelce Joke About Their ‘Physical’ Post-Super Bowl Celebrations With Taylor Swift

On the latest episode of New Heights, the NFL’s favorite brothers Jason and Travis Kelce debriefed their raucous Super Bowl weekend in Las Vegas, from hanging out with Taylor Swift at Allegiant Stadium Sunday (Feb. 11) to going all out at that night’s afterparty to celebrate the Kansas City Chiefs’ victory. 

“I feel like I just got in a trainwreck, man,” Travis confessed on the Wednesday (Feb. 14) episode. “That was a physical game, man.” 

“That was a physical post game too,” quipped Jason, seemingly nodding to his little brother’s PDA moments with Swift on the afterparty dance floor.  

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“All right now,” Travis replied with a knowing smile.  

The pop star was on hand Sunday to cheer on Travis as he helped lead the Chiefs to victory against the San Francsico 49ers, securing the team its second Super Bowl win in two years. Swift and Jason watched the game from a private suite with Blake Lively, Lana Del Rey, Miles Teller and more famous friends, and at one point, the “Anti-Hero” singer was featured on the jumbotron chugging her drink – about which Travis called Swift a “pro” on New Heights. 

After the game, Travis, Jason and Swift stepped out at a club in Las Vegas to celebrate with the younger Kelce’s teammates. Many viral videos emerged from the party, including clips of the Philadelphia Eagles center dancing in a red and yellow wrestling mask and the 14-time Grammy winner singing along to her own songs with Travis. 

Jason also opened up about meeting two very different music icons at Swift’s introduction: Sir Paul McCartney and Ice Spice. “All of a sudden I hear Taylor behind me like, ‘Jason, turn around!’” the older Kelce recalled. “I look around, and Paul McCartney is standing right there. I’m like, ‘What the heck is this?’” 

“Also got to meet Ice Spice, she was very nice,” he continued, with Travis adding that the “Munch” rapper is “awesome for showing up and showing support like that.” 

Watch the latest episode of New Heights above. 

14 Feb 2024

Eminem to Co-Produce Upcoming ‘Stans’ Documentary Showcasing Superfandom in Music

Eminem coined the term “Stan” with his 2000 hit in a pre-cursor to what the evolution of superfan culture would look like in the social media era decades later. Now, Slim Shady is set to co-produce a Stans documentary, diving deeper into the multilayered relationship between artists and their audience, with fans having more access than ever to their heroes.

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According to Variety, Stans will arrive later this year, with the 15-time Grammy winner involved via his Shady Films, along with DIGA Studios and Hill District Media.

Steven Leckart has reportedly been tapped as the film’s director, according to Variety. A synopsis says that the doc will be a “revealing, edgy and disarmingly personal journey into the world of superfandom, told through the lens of one of the world’s most iconic and enduring artists, Eminem, and the fans that worship him.”

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Eminem’s manager Paul Rosenberg said in a statement: “Stans will be the opportunity for us to to turn the camera around and ask the audience about being fans — and in some cases, fanatics. This is a study of the relationship between fanbase and artist through the lens of one of Eminem’s most fascinating songs and one of the world’s most important entertainers.”

While Stans is reported to be a working title, the documentary will initially be distributed by MTV/Paramount.

“Paul Rosenberg and I have known each other since my days on MTV’s TRL, a show that was driven by the power of fandom, bringing artists and their fans together. So when he told me about the idea for this film, it felt like we had come full circle,” DIGA CEO Tony DiSanto added. “Stans will explore the complex relationship between fame and super fandom, told through the lens of one of the world’s most Iconic artists, Eminem, his music, and, especially, his most extreme fans.”

Eminem’s “Stan” was included on the Detroit rap icon’s The Marshall Mathers LP in 2000. Produced by The 45 King, the multiplatinum track reached a peak of No. 51 on the Billboard Hot 100 in December 2000. The Oxford English Dictionary added the term “Stan” to its pages in 2017.

Watch the “Stan” music video below.

14 Feb 2024

Boy George, Sharon Osbourne, Gene Simmons & More Sign Letter Rejecting Attempt to Bar Israel From 2024 Eurovision Song Contest

A wide-ranging group of more than 400 musicians, actors, agents and managers and studio executives signed an open letter to the 2024 Eurovision Song Contest rejecting attempts by some participating countries to bar Israel from participating in this year’s event. Among those lending their names to the letter from the non-profit entertainment industry organization Creative Community for Peace were: Helen Mirren, Liev Schreiber, KISS’ Gene Simmons, Scooter Braun, Boy George, Sharon Osbourne, Emmy Rossum, Mayim Bialik, Debra Messing, Diane Warren and Selma Blair, among many others.

The letter supports the European Broadcasting Union’s commitment to including Israel in this year’s contest amid calls last month from Swedish and Finnish artists demanding Israel’s exclusion from the contest over their belief that including the country “undermines” the spirit of the competition. The letters cited Israel’s ongoing response to the deadly Oct. 7 surprise assault on the nation from Hamas militants in which more than 1,200 Israelis — mostly civilians — were murdered, sexually assaulted and attacked and more than 250 were taken hostage.

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“We have been shocked and disappointed to see some members of the entertainment community calling for Israel to be banished from the Contest for responding to the greatest massacre of Jews since the Holocaust,” the letter reads. “Under the cover of thousands of rockets fired indiscriminately into civilian populations, Hamas murdered and kidnapped innocent men, women, and children.”

Artist manager Braun added, “Music is a place for unity not division. It is a language that should always bring us together. Artists should never be discriminated against for who they are, who they love, or where they’re born. These boycott efforts do nothing but distract from the uplifting and unifying power of music – something we need now more than ever.”

KISS’ Simmons, who was born in Israel to a Holocaust survivor mother, wrote, “Music unites people from all backgrounds. It’s the one language that everyone can understand. It’s a beautiful thing and a great way to bring people together. Those advocating to exclude an Israeli singer from Eurovision don’t move the needle towards peace, but only further divide the world.”

Last month’s letter from a group of more than 1,000 Swedish artists — this year’s Eurovision will be held in the the Swedish city of Malmö from May 7-11 — requested that Israel be barred from participating over it’s “brutal” response to the Hamas attack, citing the “humanitarian disaster” in Gaza.

“We who sign this are 1,000 artists who believe in music as a unifying force. The Eurovision song contest began as a peace project with the ambition to unite countries and citizens through music,” read the Swedish letter, whose signers included Robyn, First Aid Kit and Fever Ray. “Allowing Israel’s participation undermines not only the spirit of the competition but the entire public service mission. It also sends the signal that governments can commit war crimes without consequences. Therefore, we appeal to the EBU: Exclude Israel from the Eurovision song contest 2024.”

To date, the 130-day war has reportedly led to the deaths of more than 28,000 Palestinians, the destruction of much of the Gaza Strip’s infrastructure and the displacement of more than one million Gazans. The Swedish letter joined earlier, similar requests to exclude Israel from more than 1,400 artists in Finland and Iceland.

The open letter from Creative Community for Peace — the first public call of its kind from the entertainment industry voicing unequivocal support of Israel’s inclusion in the contest — highlights Eurovision’s ability to unify people from diverse backgrounds and music’s power to effect positive change in the world.

Other signatories to the open letter include: Julianna Marguiles, Ginnifer Goodwin, Recording Academy CEO Harvey Mason Jr., Skylar Astin, Atlantic Records Group CEO Julie Greenwald, Universal Music Publishing Group CEO Jody Gerson, Warner Records CEO Aaron Bay-Schuck, Patricia Heaton, Jennifer Jason Leigh, Disturbed’s David Draiman, Tom Arnold, Columbia Pictures chairman Tom Rothman and MRC co-founder/co-CEO Modi Wiczyk.

The letter notes that Israel has a long and storied Eurovision history — including hosting in 1979, 1999 and 2019 and winning in 1978, 1979, 1998 and 2018 — while offering up a diverse group of contestants representing the Palestinian, Ethiopian and LGBTQIA+ communities. “Furthermore, we believe that unifying events such as singing competitions are crucial to help bridge our cultural divides and unite people of all backgrounds through their shared love of music,” it reads.

“The annual Eurovision Song Contest embodies this unifying spirit. Every year, millions of people across Europe and around the world join in a massive display of cultural exchange and celebration of music. Those who are calling for Israel’s exclusion are subverting the spirit of the Contest and turning it from a celebration of unity into a tool of politics.” Click here to see the full letter.

14 Feb 2024

Shaquille O’Neal — AKA DJ Diesel — Discusses His Billboard Chart Hits

An elder statesman of NBA stars with rapping side hustles, Hall of Fame center Shaquille O’Neal landed his first hit, “What’s Up Doc? (Can We Rock),” on MTV in 1993, and it peaked at No. 39 on the Billboard Hot 100. He has four other Hot 100 songs to his name and four Billboard 200 albums — and now records electronic music and tours as DJ Diesel. The co-host of TNT’s Inside the NBA, Shaq answered email questions about his chart success.

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You’ve had many accolades throughout your career. Where does scoring your first hit on the pop charts rank?

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You know, this whole journey, it’s never really been about just me. It’s like being on the court but in the studio, where every player brings something unique to the game… Seeing my records on the charts is just validation that I am doing the right thing and on the right course. It’s an awesome feeling similar to some of the NBA records I have.

You went nearly 25 years between releasing albums, from 1998 to 2023 — why the long wait? What did you miss about making music? What was most exciting when you went back to it?

Fun fact: I did not stop making music after ’98; I just didn’t release it. Music’s always been a personal thing for me, a way to express myself off the court. Then I discovered EDM after crashing [Belgium’s] Tomorrowland festival, and it was like finding a new rhythm to my game. My bass and dubstep productions were like this amazing secret I had, and eventually, it felt like a secret too good not to share. That’s why I jumped back in.

On a personal note, I live in Denver and am curious to know your favorite Nikola Jokic play of all time.

Did you just ask me to pick my favorite Nikola Jokic play? Jokic is one of those players where any play of his could land in the ESPN’s [Sportscenter] Top 10 on any given day. Just the other day, I saw him nail a crazy half-court three for the win. That was nuts! He’s not just a special player, he’s a special big man, redefining what it means to play the center position and shoot the ball — but can he DJ?

14 Feb 2024

Kim Petras Serves Up the Raunchiest Valentine’s Day Mix Ever on Sultry ‘Slut Pop Miami’ EP

Kim Petras has the perfect soundtrack for you Valentine’s Day. The Grammy-winning singer dropped a 12-track sex positive lust bomb EP on Wednesday (Feb. 14) entitled Slut Pop Miami, a sequel her 2002 seven-track Slut Pop EP.

The collection that a press release explains was “inspired by hedonistic trips to Miami” pulls no punches from jump on “Slut Pop Reprise,” on which Petras promises “these b–ches can’t suck like me/ Walk in, I’m the sucking queen” over an insistent disco beat and a robotic voice announcing “this is slut pop.”

The pleasure-seeking party doesn’t stop there, with X-rated jams including “Gag On It,” “F–in’ This F–kin’ That,” “Get F–ked,” “Rim Job,” “C–kblocker,” “B-tt Slut,” “Whale C-ck” and the EDM banger “Banana Boat,” on which Petras coos “So ripe, so sweet, big and juicy/ Can’t wait to put ya in my smoothie/ I wanna ride, ride, ride your banana boat.”

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Petras has been hyping the collection on her Instagram for the past two weeks, showing off a custom Corvette with the album’s title, a teaser for the album’s title track in which Petras poses on the beach in a barely there silver bikini hiding, over inflated, exploding breast implants. After that clip was posted, Petras’ “Unholy” collaborator, Sam Smith, commented “UNBELIEVABLE.”

In the day leading up the EPs release, Petras released two more NSFW teaser videos that, well, see for yourself.

Petras is currently on the European leg of her Feed the Beast world tour in support of her 2023 albums Feed the Beast and Problématique.

Listen to Slut Pop Miami below.

14 Feb 2024

Inaugural 2024 Fool in Love Festival to Feature Lionel Richie, Diana Ross, Santana, Al Green, Smokey Robinson & Many More

It may be Valentine’s Day, but if you are really in the mood for love it might make sense to pass up those chocolates and long-stemmed roses today and save your romantic gesture for a late summer date to the inaugural swoon-worthy Fool in Love festival.

The packed lineup for the August 31 gig at Sofi Stadium-adjacent Hollywood Park in Los Angeles will be headlined by Lionel Richie and Diana Ross, with a stacked roster of classic R&B and soul stars including Al Green, Nile Rodgers & Chic, Gladys Knight, Chaka Khan, the Isley Brothers, Charlie Wilson, the O’Jays, Smokey Robinson, Dionne Warwick, the Stylistics, the Chi-Lites, George Clinton & Parliament Funkadelic, Zapp, Kool & the Gang, Rose Royce and Morris Day & the Time, among many others.

Fans can signs up now for an access code to a presale that begins on Friday (Feb. 16) at 1 p.m. ET here; a public onsale will follow at 5 p.m. ET if any tickets remain. GA, GA+, VIP and Platinum tickets will be available with layaway payment plans starting at $19.99 down.

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Also slated to perform at the show are: Santana, Eric Burdon & the Animals, the Jacksons, War, the Spinners, the Whispers, Durand Jones & the Indications, Barbara Mason, Mayer Hawthorne, Durand Jones, the Delfonics, the Stylistics, Los Lobos, Stevie B, Heatwave, the Bar Kays feat. Larry Dodson, Cameo, Shalamar, S.O.S. Band, Dazz Band, the Legendary Blue Notes, Bloodstone, Frankie J, Con Funk Shun, the Pointer Sisters, the Mary Jane Girls and many more.

Check out the full lineup below.