Music News

01 Nov 2023

10 First-Timers on Billboard’s Charts This Week: ScarLip, Alex Isley, Destin Conrad, Chriseanrock & More

Billboard has more than 200 different weekly charts in its menu, encompassing numerous genres and formats.

While established artists often compete for a spot on the Billboard Hot 100 songs chart and Billboard 200 albums ranking, which track the most popular songs and albums of the week, respectively, up-and-coming talents typically start off on genre-specific lists.

Here’s a look at 10 artists who appear on surveys for the first time on the Nov. 4-dated charts.

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ScarLip



The New York City-based rapper (real name: Sierra Lewis) scores her first Billboard chart appearance with “No Statements.” The track, released Sept. 15 via Broken Child/Epic Records, debuts at No. 40 on Mainstream R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay (up 36% in plays, according to Luminate). TikTok has been a big player in the song’s growing profile, as a portion of the track has been used in over 70,000 clips on the platform to date. (Activity on TikTok is not included in Billboard’s charts except for the recently launched TikTok Billboard Top 50).

ScarLip has released eight other songs on streaming services, including her collaboration with Snoop Dogg, “This Is Cali,” in May. Earlier this year, Billboard named her track “This Is New York” one of the 50 best songs of 2023 so far. ScarLip joins a growing list of female rappers from New York to break through this year, along with Ice Spice, Lola Brooke and Flo Milli.

Alex Isley



The singer-songwriter from New Jersey arrives on Billboard’s charts thanks to her collaborative album with Terrace Martin, I Left My Heart in Ladera. The set, released Oct. 20 on IRD/Sounds of Crenshaw/BMG, debuts at No. 2 on Contemporary Jazz Albums and No. 22 on Jazz Albums with 1,000 equivalent album units earned in its opening week.

Isley, the daughter of music legend and chart veteran Ernie Isley of the Isley Brothers, has been releasing music for over a decade. She’s released three other albums: Dreams in Analog (2013), L U X U R Y (2015) and Marigold, with Jack Dine (2022). In 2020, her collab with Cautious Clay and Raedio, “Reaching,” appeared in the fourth season of HBO’s Insecure. She’s also collaborated Lucky Daye, Robert Glasper, Masego and serpentwithfeet, among others.

Destin Conrad



The Tampa, Fla. native debuts on Billboard’s charts for the first time thanks to his featured appearance on Mahalia’s “It’s Not Me, It’s You.” Released in July via Atlantic Records on Mahalia’s latest LP, IRL, the song debuts at No. 27 on Adult R&B Airplay (up 19% in plays).

Conrad has released three solo LPs so far: Colorway (2021), Satin (2022) and Submissive (last Friday, Oct. 27). The new nine-track set, released on Above Ground Entertainment, also includes collaborations with Masego and Jordan Ward. Billboard named the Masego collab, “Super Paradise,” as one of its recent R&B/Hip-Hop Fresh Picks of the Week. He’s previously released songs with Amaria, Ambre, Duckwrth, Kiana Lede and Musiq Soulchild.

Chriseanrock



The rapper and reality TV personality is officially a Billboard-charting artist, thanks to her new collaboration with Lil Mabu, “Mr. Take Ya B*tch.” The song, which the pair self-released Oct. 17, debuts at No. 33 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart, with 7.1 million official U.S. streams earned in its first full week of tracking (Oct. 20-26). The song also helps her debut at No. 37 on Emerging Artists.

Chriseanrock (a mash-up of her real name, Chrisean Rock) has appeared on the past three seasons of the Zeus reality show Baddies (Baddies South, Baddies West and Baddies East). Since 2022, she has also starred in her own Zeus reality show, Blueface & Chrisean: Crazy in Love, alongside her former boyfriend with whom she has a child, Blueface. “Mr. Take Ya B*tch” is a diss track aimed at the rapper. Chriseanrock has released nearly a dozen other songs on streaming platforms, all since 2020.

Head DA DON



The MC notches his first Billboard chart entry, thanks to his featured appearance on Tech N9ne’s “Pull Out.” The track, released in July via Strange Music on Tech N9ne’s 24th studio album Bliss, debuts at No. 39 on Mainstream R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay (up 13% in plays).

In an exclusive interview with Billboard last month, Tech N9ne predicted that the song would be a hit. “When I heard that beat from Goodro, then that [‘pull out’] hook from Head DA DON, I knew immediately that the song would get us back up on radio and the charts,” he said. “This is just the beginning of the fire songs coming off Bliss.”

Adam Ten & Maori



Both artists score their first Billboard chart placements thanks to their collaboration, “Spring Girl.” Released Aug. 25 on Higher Ground, the track debuts at No. 11 on Dance/Electronic Digital Song Sales (up 88% in downloads). The song was boosted by a new mix with Vintage Culture, released Oct. 4.

Adam Ten, from Tel Aviv, has been a familiar face in the Israeli dance scene for over a decade. He has released multiple EPs and DJ’d various events around the globe. Maori, also from Israel, has been releasing music on streaming services as Maori since last year. He has released three EPs this year: South of the Border, in March, This Is Who I Am, with Monro (May), and Pillow Fight (July). The two also teamed up for the track “NCO,” released in August.

Ela Taubert



The Colombian singer-songwriter hits Billboard’s charts for the first time with her single “Y Si Eras Tu.” The song, released Sept. 8 on Universal Music Latino/UMLE, debuts at No. 19 on Latin Pop Airplay (up 121% in audience). In March, Taubert released her first EP, the five-track Quien Dijo Que Era Facil?

Frizk



Frizk arrives on Billboard’s charts with his viral breakthrough hit “All My Fellas (Pose 4 the Camera).” It debuts at No. 24 on the Hot Dance/Electronic Songs chart with 190,000 official U.S. streams. TikTok has been a major factor in the song’s growing profile, as a portion of the track has been used in over 30,000 clips on the platform to date.

Frizk released his debut LP Forgotten Arcade on Friday (Oct. 27). Before that, he released two songs: “Friend” and “Bossa Break!,” in August and September, respectively.

Luke Harrison



The Australian singer-songwriter is new to Billboard’s charts thanks to his song “Make Me Better.” The track, released Oct. 6 on Duncan Group Entertainment, debuts at No. 25 on Adult Contemporary airplay (up 283% in plays). Harrison has released four other songs on streaming services: “Free,” “Purpose,” “Heroes” and “You’ll Never Change.”

01 Nov 2023

SoundCloud and Sickamore Launch IIIXL STUDIO to Discover Rising NYC Talent

SoundCloud and veteran music executive Sickamore have partnered to launch IIIXL STUDIO, a Brooklyn-based enterprise devoted to signing and developing New York City artists, it was announced today (Nov. 1).

The union between SoundCloud and Sickamore (born Randall Medford) will join the streaming company’s proprietary data and the executive’s eye for talent to scour through the New York City area to find hip-hop acts and nurture them through the company’s artists development program. 

Upon discovery, Sickamore will take the budding talent over to SoundCloud’s artist partnerships division, where the company will offer marketing resources and creative support to the artists and their teams. In addition, APG’s label partnership division will assist by providing additional resources to IIIXL Studio.

The first signing is 20-year-old Harlem artist Liim, who previously released “Mary J” earlier this year. Listen below.

“As 20+ years as a mixtape DJ, A&R, and manager, music has been my life and has taken me around the world,” says Sickmore, founder of IIIXL to Billboard. “Launching IIIXL Studio and partnering with SoundCloud to develop high-end hip-hop artists in my hometown of New York City is my proudest moment.” Sickmore previously worked with stars such as Travis Scott, YG, Don Toliver, and Sheck Wes. He previously worked at major labels such as Epic Records and Interscope Records. 

Added Eliah Seton, CEO of SoundCloud: “This is just the beginning of Sickamore’s journey with SoundCloud, and we’re so excited for what’s next. It’s all about passion, dedication, and hard work, and together, we’re composing a future where creativity can truly shine.”

01 Nov 2023

BTS’ Jung Kook Channels Michael Jackson in ‘Standing Next to You’ Video Teaser

Jung Kook is days away from stepping into his own as a pop soloist, so who better to channel in his upcoming music video than the King of Pop? Ahead of the release of his debut solo album Golden, the BTS star shared a music video teaser for one of the upcoming project’s singles, “Standing Next to You,” in which he appears to pay subtle tribute to Michael Jackson.

Posted Wednesday (Nov. 1), the teaser finds Jung Kook dressed in an MJ-esque military jacket complete with metallic embellishments and tassels as he emulates some of the late legend’s signature dance moves — namely, the iconic crotch grab. In other shots, the K-pop star stands solo, modeling a majestic pair of black angel wings.

The teaser comes just two days ahead of Friday’s (Nov. 3) album drop, which will also see the release of the full “Standing Next to You” video. And even though it’s not out yet, Golden is already breaking records; just this week, Jung Kook’s Latto duet, “Seven,” became the fastest song to reach 1 billion streams in Spotify history.

The track also earned Jung Kook his first ever Billboard Hot 100 No. 1 earlier this year. His collaboration with Jack Harlow, “3D” — which is also part of the Golden tracklist — followed close behind, bowing at No. 5 on the chart.

His successful collaborations don’t stop there, however. Earlier this week, “Too Much” with Central Cee and The Kid LAROI made Jung Kook the first South Korean soloist to land three songs in the top 10 of the the Official U.K. Singles chart.

Watch Jung Kook’s “Standing Next to You” teaser above.

01 Nov 2023

Kelly Clarkson Sinks Her Teeth Into Olivia Rodrigo’s ‘Vampire’ for Halloween Kellyoke: Watch

Kelly Clarkson was more than prepared for Halloween on Tuesday (Oct. 31), and chose a very fitting Kellyoke cover to open up her namesake talk show. The host treated her studio audience to a clean (and television appropriate) version of Olivia Rodrigo‘s recent single, “Vampire.”

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The three-time Grammy winner took to the stage in a full vampire’s costume consisting of a billowing low-cut, floor-length black gown with bat sleeves, a black velvet choker and fake bloody tears — made of makeup and appliqués — cascading from beneath her eyes. Her backing band Y’all was replaced with just a pianist, who accompanied her on the spooky cover.

“‘Cause I’ve made some real big mistakes/ But you make the worst one look fine I should’ve known it was strange/ You only come out at night/ I used to think I was smart/ But you made me look so naive/ The way you sold me for parts/ As you sunk your teeth into me, oh/ Bloodsucker, dream crusher/ Bleedin’ me dry, like a damn vampire,” Clarkson passionately sang on her rendition of the track, peppering the lyrics with her signature high notes and swooping vocal runs.

Released as the lead single off of Rodrigo’s sophomore album, GUTS, “Vampire” debuted and peaked at No. 1 on the all-genre Billboard Hot 100 chart. The track has spent a total of 17 weeks on the chart and is currently at No. 11 on the Nov. 4-dated tally.

Watch Clarkson’s cover of Rodrigo’s “Vampire” in the video above.

01 Nov 2023

UC Berkeley Latest University to Offer Taylor Swift College Course

Taylor Swift is one step closer to becoming a common core fixture in collegiate education. This week, UC Berkeley became the latest college to announce a course inspired by the 33-year-old pop star, confirming plans to launch “Artistry and Entrepreneurship: Taylor’s Version” in 2024.

Taught by Sofia Lendahl and Crystal Haryanto, the course’s syllabus reportedly invites students to “fall down a rabbit hole of what has led to Taylor Swift’s prolific success as a songwriter, businesswoman, and creative influence.” “Through lyricism, branding, and craft, we’ll explore how art and authenticity create enduring value and a viable enterprise,” it continues, according to KRON4. “We’ll analyze performance and interview clips, discuss media portrayal and perceptions, and develop working definitions of Swift’s role in society—and yours. We’ll put her under scrutiny, but handle it beautifully.”

The new program comes as Swift reaches a new peak in her career; last week, it was projected that the “Anti-Hero” singer had reached billionaire status thanks to her ongoing blockbuster Eras Tour. The musician is also fresh off the release of 1989 (Taylor’s Version), her fourth re-recorded album. Her “Taylor’s Version” project has been so independently successful since beginning in 2021, record labels are actively working to prevent artists from following Swift’s lead.

The upward trend of Taylor-themed college courses can be traced back to early 2022, when New York University launched a class studying the superstar’s entrepreneurship, songwriting influences and relationship to the media at the Clive Davis Institute. Later that year, Swift herself showed up at NYU’s commencement ceremony to accept an honorary doctorate degree and deliver a speech to the graduates.

Since then, Swift syllabi has been rolled out at the University of Texas, Arizona State University and Stanford University.

01 Nov 2023

Lil Nas X’s NSFW Halloween Costume Is This Year’s Wildest… Period

There is no subtle way to say this: Lil Nas X managed to outdo himself, and just about everyone else with his Halloween costume this year. The “Industry Baby” rapper loves to push our buttons with outrageous stage outfits and sets, but on Tuesday (Oct. 31) Montero took things to a whole new level with a get-up that you have to see to believe.

Lil Nas posted a 20-second video on his socials that opened with an image of a portal with a string hanging out of it. When the camera zoomed out, though, it revealed Nas dressed in a white wig, white tights and matching high heels topped by a white jacket stained red from the shoulders to the waist.

Yes, he was dressed as a bloody tampon and the portal was… you get it.

The comments on X (formerly Twitter) said it all: “this is unreal,” “is tha_,” “oh that’s not-” and “you won Halloween for sure. Walk that dog!!!” On Instagram some commenters were offended by the costume, though one said Lil Nas may have actually done his fans a service.

“A lot of people in the comments are annoying, saying ‘you don’t know how badly it hurts so don’t dress like period’ but please, can we agree that, besides the fact that it’s freaking funny, it’s also important to TALK ABOUT PERIODS??” read the comment. “Like this is a big taboo for a lot of people (women, men or everyone else). My personal first reaction was (to laugh) like ‘yeah yeah yeah, periods are something important, thanks for showing it !!’ So please, stop crying that ‘periods are a subject forbidden to men’ or ‘you laugh about our pain’ cause NO. It is funny, and it might help to talk about it.”

While Lil Nas may have divided some people with his tampon take, his other Halloween look paid homage to queer rock and roll pioneer: Little Richard. “lil richard x… this man created rock and roll and doesn’t get enough credit for it. thank u for paving the way for me in many ways little richard. fly high ? wooooo,” Lil Nas wrote on Tuesday in an Instagram post in which he was dressed as the “Tutti Frutti” singer in five classic looks. In a second post, Lil Nas mouthed along to one of Richard’s classic not-so-humble brags about inventing rock.

Check out Lil Nas’ costumes below.

01 Nov 2023

Britney Spears Shot Her ‘Overprotected’ Music Video Minutes After Getting Justin Timberlake Breakup Text

Pain and heartbreak have resulted in some of the most moving and seminal works in pop music history, and this appears to be true for Britney Spears, according to “Overprotected” music video director Chris Applebaum.

In an exclusive new clip from a forthcoming Impact x Nightline episode that details the aftermath of Spears’ memoir The Woman in Me, Applebaum recounts the fated breakup text that spurred an unforgettable performance.

“I walk into her trailer, and Britney’s not dressed for the next scene,” Applebaum recalls. “She’s not ready, her hair and makeup isn’t ready. She’s still in a Juicy Couture sweatsuit, and I could immediately tell something was wrong. I asked her if everything was OK, and she said, ‘No, things are not OK, because look,’ and she held out her flip phone and I saw this text which said, ‘It’s over,’ which was from her boyfriend at the time, Justin Timberlake.”

Timberlake and Spears dated from 1999 to 2002, and their coupling quickly became one of the most recognizable relationships in pop culture history. In her memoir, Spears recounts her entire relationship with the “Cry Me a River” singer, revealing some bombshells in the process. In The Woman in Me, Spears claimed that she had an abortion during their relationship. “If it had been left up to me alone, I never would have done it, and yet Justin was so sure that he didn’t want to be a father,” she wrote. “To this day, it’s one of the most agonizing things I have ever experienced in my life.”

That shocking revelation wouldn’t be the last time Timberlake shattered Spears’ world. “It seemed like that was the end of the video shoot, and I acknowledged that with everybody,” Applebaum says. “But, on the other hand, if you feel like you wanna get out there and show him that he just lost the best thing that he ever had, let’s do it. Ten to 15 minutes later, she came out and she was on fire. This was the Britney that everybody knows and loves.”

Applebaum directed the music video for the song’s Darkchild remix. The clip featured references to both Spears’ passion for dance and the predatory nature of paparazzi. “Overprotected” — the second international single from 2001’s Britney album — ultimately peaked at No. 86 on the Billboard Hot 100 and earned a Grammy nomination for best female pop vocal performance.

The forthcoming “It’s Britney” episode of Impact x Nightline will stream starting Thursday (Nov. 2) on Hulu and is set to feature exclusive first-hand accounts of Spears’ talent, work ethic and creative genius in the wake of the release of The Woman In Me. In addition to Applebaum, Dan George, the tour manager and creative producer behind Spears’ 2009 Circus Tour, also provides a first-hand account of Spears’ life and career around the time her conservatorship began.

Watch an exclusive clip from the upcoming Impact x Nightline “It’s Britney” episode above, and revisit the “Overprotected (Darkchild Remix)” video below.

01 Nov 2023

Travis Barker Confirmed the Hard-Hitting Name of the Baby Boy He’s Expecting With Kourtney Kardashian

Travis Barker and Kourtney Kardashian could be parents by the time you read this. The Blink-182 drummer and the reality TV star are expecting their first child together any minute now and in a new podcast interview on One Life One Chance with Toby Morse, Barker seemed to accidentally reveal the name of their soon-to-bounce baby.

In fact, according to Barker, Kardashian’s due date was yesterday (Oct. 31). “When Rocky’s born I’ll be the father of seven,” Barker said proudly on the show about his father duties in his blended family with Kardashian. The child’s until-now kind-of secret name was first revealed when host Morse asked Barker if he’d ever reunite with his all-star punk-hip-hop group, The Transplants.

The group fronted by Rancid singer/guitarist Tim Armstrong and Rob Aston has been on an unofficial hiatus since 2017, but Barker said they were signed up to play a benefit show this year before life got in the way. “There’s one that’s a benefit for Hawaii that we were going to do, but it’s the week that Rocky’s due,” Barker said, appearing to confirm rumors that the baby’s name is Rocky. Barker then revealed the baby’s full handle: Rocky Thirteen Barker, which Morse dubbed “such a hard name.”

“I was like, ‘he’s going to come out of my wife’s vagina doing front kicks and push-ups,’” Barker laughed, before saying that Kardashian’s due date was Halloween. Morse joked that the dress-up loving couple could not have planned it better. “I know. It’s either Halloween or like, the first week of November,” Barker said.

Back in July, Barker and his 17-year-old daughter from his previous marriage, Alabama, joked about some potential baby names, with ‘Bama tossing out high-end ones including, “Audemars, Milan f–kin’ Patek.” At the time, Travis said he had something more punk rock in mind, first floating the “Rocky Thirteen” moniker. Barker explained that the name was not inspired by Sylvester Stallone’s fictional Philly pugilist, but rather by Suicidal Tendencies guitarist Rocky George and the drummer’s favorite number.

Barker and Kardashian — who has three children with her ex Scott Disick: Mason, 13, Penelope, 11 and Reign, 8 — announced they were expecting their first child together in June. The baby news reveal came in early June when Kardashian held up a “Travis I’m Pregnant” poster in the crowd at Blink-182’s concert in Los Angeles. Last month, Kardashian revealed that she had an ultrasound that “saved my baby’s life,” following urgent fetal surgery in September that had Barker flying home from Blink’s overseas tour.

Listen to Barker on One Life One Chance with Toby Morse below (baby talk comes at 1:16:09 mark).

01 Nov 2023

Apple TV+ Announces Three-Part ‘John Lennon: Murder Without a Trial’ Documentary Series

Apple TV+ announced a new three-part documentary series delving into the 1980 murder of late Beatle John Lennon. With narration from 24 star Kiefer Sutherland, John Lennon: Murder Without a Trial promises to present exclusive eyewitness interviews and previously unseen crime scene photos that will shed “new light on the life and murder” of the rock icon, as well as the investigation and conviction of his confessed killer, Mark David Chapman.

A release announcing the series says it is “the most thoroughly researched examination of John Lennon’s 1980 murder, which shocked and saddened the world.” The production was reportedly given extensive Freedom of Information Act requests from the New York City Police Department, the Board of Parole and the District Attorney’s office and features “exclusive interviews with eyewitnesses — speaking for the first time — along with some of Lennon’s closest friends, revealing shocking details of Lennon’s tragic murder.” The series will also feature interviews with Chapman’s defense lawyers, psychiatrists, detectives and prosecutors.

The show was directed by Nick Holt (Responsible Child) and Rob Coldstream (Jade: The Reality Star Who Changed Britain) and produced by Apple TV+ and 72 Films. At press time a release date for the series had not been announced. Lennon’s killing has previously been the subject of a number of films, including 2007 biographical drama Chapter 27 starring Jared Leto.

Lennon was shot and killed on Dec. 8, 1980 outside his New York apartment building, the Dakota, by Chapman, a disturbed Beatles fan who said he was inspired to murder the beloved musician by the hypocrisy-hating fictional misanthrope Holden Caulfield from J.D. Salinger’s iconic 1951 novel The Catcher in the Rye. Chapman was convicted of second-degree murder and sentenced to 20 years to life in prison; he became eligible for parole in 2000 and has been denied release 12 times since.

The news of the docuseries came just days before the release of what has been dubbed the the final-ever Beatles song, “Now and Then,” which will drop on Thursday (Nov. 2), followed on Friday (Nov. 3) by a Peter Jackson-directed music video featuring previously unseen footage of the Fab Four. “Now and Then” is the final song written by Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison and Ringo Starr, and it was finished by living members McCartney and Starr more than 40 years after the group began work on it.

The double A-side single will also include a touching throwback with the inclusion of the band’s 1962 debut single, “Love Me Do,” featuring the original cover art shot by Ed Ruscha.

01 Nov 2023

Mariah Carey Scares Off Halloween and Jumps Right Into Christmas Season: ‘It’s Time’

There are good reasons why Mariah Carey is considered the Queen of Christmas. One of them is her punctuality. MC wasted exactly zero minutes getting into the holiday spirit in what has become her annual ritual of warning the Lambily that Christmas is coming, but they should not jump the gun and start stringing lights before Halloween is over. “Not yet,” she likes to tell them.

But, man, the minute the clock strikes 12:01 on Nov. 1, Mariah is ready to rock around the Christmas tree! In her latest reveal on Tuesday night (Nov. 31), the singer posted an elaborate 35-second video captioned with her now-familiar seasonal kick-off kicker, “It’s…… TIME!!!,” followed by pumpkin, block of ice and Christmas tree emoji and the hashtag #MariahSZN.

The accompanying clip opens with a shot of a frozen vault with a red countdown clock above it that reads “November 1 12:00.” The vault opens to reveal a bevy of Carey’s assistants dressed in a variety of scary masks using hair dryers to help Mariah escape from a giant block of ice.

Mariah being Mariah, she finishes the job by hitting one of her signature high notes, cracking the ice with a trill of “It’s time!!!!” as the block shatters and she emerges in a red and white Santa-style costume while snow falls amid a forest of Christmas trees. Her twins, 12-year-old Monroe and Moroccan, join in the festivities and dance around with a crew of revelers as Carey’s iconic holiday hit, “All I Want For Christmas Is You” officially blasts out for the first time this season.

The 1994 hit has long been a Christmas staple, but it never hit No. 1 until 2019 and has since ranked as the most popular holiday song of all time on the Billboard Holiday 100. Carey is slated to hit the road for her 13-date Merry Christmas One and All! tour on Nov. 15 in Highland, CA and ride her sleigh across North American until a Dec. 17 gig at Madison Square Garden in New York.

Watch Mariah invite the holiday season in below.