Music News

16 May 2023

R&B/Hip-Hop Fresh Picks of the Week: Victoria Monét, Monaleo, Emotional Oranges & More

We’re well into May, and the summer heat just keeps coming. From electronic and house-tinged cuts by Overmono and Emotional Oranges to irresistible rap songs by way of Monaleo and Jermtown, we’ve got everything you need to start off the warmer months right with indie and emerging artists from across the globe.

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Check out our Spotify playlist that includes all our fresh picks from this month, and don’t forget to share the wealth.

Freshest Find: Victoria Monét feat. Buju Banton, “Party Girls”

Victoria Monét is on a roll. The cult-favorite singer joined forces with dancehall mainstay Buju Banton on a single that packs more than enough heat for a summer filled with nights out. The multi-hyphenate flaunts her plethora of talents, unfurling routines of hypnotic moves from scene to scene in the visual dedicated to the “party girls lightin’ up the world.”

Overmono, “Cold Blooded”

If electronic music isn’t really your speed, Overmono is here to ease you in. On “Cold Blooded,” the UK duo builds on an Afrobeats-esque drum pattern and R&B melodies, combined with gritty synths and a classically electronic instrumental bridge with chopped and filtered vocals.

Jermtown feat. FELIX!, “2002”

Michigan’s Jermtown comes together with Massachusetts rapper FELIX! on the carefree “2002.” The Sara Kawai and Ayeitsnate-produced beat carries Detroit sensibilities while the two rappers do their part by staying true to the city’s laidback cadence. In a black and white video reminiscent of Pusha T and Kanye West’s “Diet Coke” the up-and-coming pair stroll around a white-washed studio firing off punch-line filled verses.

Emotional Oranges feat. Nonso Amadi, “Not Worthy”

“I’m the reason we fell through,” declares “A.” of Emotional Oranges on the opening line of “Not Worthy.” The beautifully self-depricating cut is a series of admissions set to a smooth house-infused instrumental as “V.” delivers a string of harmonies throughout the three-minute cut.

Obongjayar, “Just Cool”

Wanna feel cool? Obongjayar has the perfect thing. This groovy cut is perfect for that iconic movie scene where the awkward teen protagonist embraces their true self, as the London-based artist declares, “Do what you want/Just leave me be/Do what you want/Just give me peace.”

Aaron May, “Stay Humble”

It’s May season, both literally and figuratively as Houston artist Aaron May has returned with his new single “Stay Humble.” The boom-bap rap song finds the rapper spitting about hustling and grinding his way to success. “Stay Humble” is the first glimpse into May’s upcoming project which is slated to release later this year.

Josh Levi, “Birthday Dance”

Josh Levi will bust a move at any given time. On his new single “Birthday Dance,” the singer slows it down, urging his lover to dance for him. The song is an addition to his 2022 EP Disc Two.

DD Osama, “Better Days”

Channeling Y2K romantic rap by way of warm guitar chords, NYC drill rapper DD Osama delivers a tender moment on his debut project, Here To Stay. The 16-year-old artist taps into his poetic side, showing a knack for introspection far beyond his age.

Monaleo, “A– Kickin’”

Despite announcing her pregnancy last month, Monaleo is showing no signs of slowing down. “Monaleo, big bully/taking names, a– kickin’,” she raps. The track will appear on her upcoming album Where the Flowers Don’t Die.

Bandmanrill, “Mr. D.C.T.”

Bandmanrill adds a Jersey Club spin to Crystal Waters’s 1991 track “Gypsy Woman.” The Newark native has been a rising voice and is helping bring the genre into the mainstream with his youthful energy and uptempo tracks.

16 May 2023

Ed Sheeran Is ‘Super Proud’ of Harry Styles for Becoming the ‘Biggest Solo Artist in the World’

Ed Sheeran and Harry Styles‘ friendship dates back to the early 2010s, when they were both laying the the groundwork for their music careers. And according to Sheeran, it’s been incredible to be on the journey to success while being friends with Styles as they’ve grown so much in the past few years, he shared in a Tuesday (May 16) appearance on The Sprout Podcast.

“There’s something about going through your formative years, you know like it’s quite weird. Like, he’s obviously, like, on top of the world right now and has gone from being in the biggest boy band in the world to then being the biggest solo artist in the world,” Sheeran explained. “And it’s just it’s an amazing journey to see. I’m, like, really, like super, super proud of him.”

Sheeran’s friendship with Styles dates back to before he had commercial success — the “Thinking Out Loud” singer would sleep on a friend’s couch and would sometimes wake up to find Styles sleeping on a different sofa at the same place. Sheeran would go on to pen songs for One Direction, including “Moments,” “Little Things,” “Over Again” and “18”; the pair also have multiple friendship tattoos.

Sheeran compared his relationship with Styles to his friendship with Taylor Swift, adding, “It’s the same thing as Taylor, like, there’s rarely people that like totally understand you and I think both of them because they are solo artists and are at this level you kind of talk and there’s an understanding there that you don’t necessarily get from everyone.”

Listen to The Sprout Podcast in full below.

16 May 2023

Megan Moroney Hits Top 10 on Country Charts & Rules Emerging Artists Ranking

Rising singer-songwriter Megan Moroney earns a host of honors on Billboard’s charts dated May 20.

The Savannah, Ga., native’s first full-length, Lucky, arrives at No. 10 on Top Country Albums. The 13-song set, released May 5, earned 18,000 equivalent album units through May 11, according to Luminate. The set marks the first top 10 debut for a woman’s first title on the chart since Gabby Barrett’s debut LP, Goldmine, arrived at No. 4 in July 2020. (Moroney previously released the six-song EP Pistol Made of Roses, in July 2022.)

Moroney, a graduate of the University of Georgia, concurrently claims her first top 10 on Billboard’s streaming-, airplay- and sales-based Hot Country Songs chart, as her rookie entry, the new set’s lead single “Tennessee Orange,” bounds 15-10. The song holds at its No. 10 high on Country Airplay, up 5% to 18.5 million audience impressions. It also drew 9.7 million official streams (up 56%) and sold 2,000 downloads (up 11%) in the United States in the May 5-11 tracking week.

“Orange” marks the first freshman entry by a female artist to reach the Hot Country Songs top 10 since Lainey Wilson’s “Things a Man Oughta Know” hit No. 3 in September 2021. The latter also became her first of two Country Airplay leaders to-date.

Additionally, Moroney tops Billboard’s Emerging Artists survey for the first time. (The chart ranks the most popular developing artists of the week, using the same formula as the all-encompassing Billboard Artist 100, which measures artist activity across multiple Billboard charts, including the Billboard Hot 100 and Billboard 200.)

Moroney is the fifth solo country female artist to rule Emerging Artists, after Barrett, Carly Pearce, Ingrid Andress and Lainey Wilson.

Moroney co-authored “Tennessee Orange” with David Fanning, Paul Jenkins and Ben Williams. She recently told Billboard of songwriters that she idolizes, including John Prine, “I think their songwriting carried their careers. That influence came from my dad.”

Moroney is currently opening shows on Brooks & Dunn’s Reboot Tour 2023, before launching her 22-city headlining The Lucky Tour this fall.

16 May 2023

Slowthai Appears in U.K. Court to Face Rape Charges

Slowthai appeared in court Tuesday (May 16) on two charges of rape and took to Instagram after the court appearance to deny the allegations.

“Regarding the allegations being reported about me. I categorically deny the charges,” the 28-year-old British rapper wrote in a statement posted to Instagram. “I am innocent and I am confident my name will be cleared. Until then I will apply my energy to ensure this is concluded swiftly and justly.”

He concluded by asking his supporters not to “comment about this situation” and to “respect the process and privacy” of his family.

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The star, real name Tyron Frampton, appeared before Oxfordshire, England, magistrates court via video link earlier in the day, where he was charged with oral and vaginal penetration of a woman without her consent stemming from a September 2021 incident in Oxford, according to The Guardian.

The publication added that Frampton did not enter a plea during the appearance and only confirmed his real name, date of birth and Northampton address. Prosecuting lawyer Adam Yar Khan said the rape charge must be heard at crown court, due to it being an indictable-only offense. At the time of publication, there is no further information surrounding the charges and the accuser’s claims.

Slowthai burst into the mainstream music market with his Mercury Prize-nominated 2019 album, Nothing About Great Britain. Since then, he’s released his 2021 album Tyron and, most recently, 2023’s Ugly. The rapper is currently scheduled to take the stage at a number of upcoming summer festivals, including Glastonbury and Reading and Leeds festival.

16 May 2023

Beyoncé Teases Hair-Related Project to Honor Mom Tina Knowles-Lawson: ‘Carrying on Her Legacy’

In the midst of kicking off her Renaissance World Tour, Beyoncé surprised fans by teasing a new project that’s all about hair on Tuesday (May 16).

“How many of y’all knew my first job was sweeping hair in my mama’s salon?” the superstar asked in a sweet Instagram post featuring a vintage photo of her as a child getting her hair braided. “Destiny’s Child got our start by performing for clients while they were getting their hair done.

“I was exposed to so many different kinds of entrepreneurial women in her salon,” Bey’s note continued. “I saw firsthand how the ways we nurture and celebrate hair can directly impact our souls. I watched her heal and be of service to so many women. Having learned so much on my hair journey, I’ve always dreamed of carrying on her legacy.”

While Beyoncé didn’t share any other details about her mystery project, the post also included a more recent snap of the mononymous icon sitting in front of a vanity in a loose white top with curling iron in hand.

Last week, the “Break My Soul” singer opened her hotly anticipated Renaissance World Tour with a sparkling, expertly polished showcase of 37 hits in Stockholm, Sweden that was equal parts fashion-forward (custom Mugler!) and tech-savvy (the robot arms!) as she delivered an epic three-hour rundown of Beyhive favorites, deep cuts and even a late-era Destiny’s Child throwback.

The worldwide trek won’t hit North America until later this summer, when Bey touches down for dual shows in Toronto on July 8 and 9 following her run across Europe.

Check out Beyoncé’s preview of her latest endeavor below.

16 May 2023

What’s Your Favorite Janet Jackson No. 1 Hit? Vote!

Happy birthday, Janet Jackson! The icon turned 57 years old on Tuesday (May 16), and we’re celebrating by looking back at some of her biggest Billboard hits.

While Jackson has an impressive 47 songs that have made the all-genre Hot 100 songs chart, the pop star also has 27 top 10 hits and 10 No. 1s. Among those chart-toppers is her first leader on the tally, “When I Think of You,” which reigned for two weeks in 1986.

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Since then, she’s had hits like 2000’s “Doesn’t Really Matter,” 1993’s “Again,” 1989’s “Miss You Much” and “That’s the Way Love Goes,” which topped the chart for a jaw-dropping eight weeks in 1993. Check out our full list of Jackson’s biggest Billboard hits here.

In celebration of Janet Jackson’s birthday, we want to know which of her No. 1s is your favorite. Let us know by voting below.

16 May 2023

The Weeknd Defends ‘The Idol’ Following Backlash: ‘I Wanted to Give a Ridiculous Response to It’

The Weeknd opened up about his upcoming HBO musical drama The Idol in a new profile on Tuesday (May 16).

Sitting down with Vanity Fair, the “Blinding Lights” singer otherwise known as Abel Tesfaye defended the forthcoming series after Rolling Stone reported production had been marred with controversy, the ousting of original director Amy Seimetz and a complete overhaul of the first season requiring extensive reshoots.

“I thought the article was ridiculous. I wanted to give a ridiculous response to it,” he said in the interview, pointing to his tweet responding to the story with a clip from The Idol in which his character, Tedros, questions, “Rolling Stone? Aren’t they a little…irrelevant?” To punctuate the dig, The Weeknd cheekily captioned his tweet with a direct message to the magazine, tweeting, “.@RollingStone did we upset you?”

Further, Tesfaye insisted there was no scandal when it came to replacing Seimetz with his co-creator Sam Levinson as director. “I actually really loved working with Amy,” he said, “and I’m sure she’s reading all this being like, ‘Why am I being thrown into this?’” Instead, he chalked up the behind-the-scenes switch to scheduling conflicts and production timelines, nonchalantly adding, “Shows get reshot every day … What are you gonna do? These are the trials and tribulations of it, and that’s what the show is about.”

The Idol, which stars Lily-Rose Depp as a mononymous pop star named Jocelyn and Tesfaye as her egotistical producer and mentor Tedros, is set to premiere at the Cannes Film Festival later this month before its wide premiere on HBO and MAX June 4. The show will also feature the likes of Suzanna Son, Rachel Sennott, Dan Levy, Troye Sivan, Moses Sumney, Jennie of BLACKPINK and more.

Read more from The Weeknd’s Vanity Fair interview about The Idol here and check out his cover shot below.

16 May 2023

BTS Member V’s Social Post Drives Daniel Caesar to No. 1 on Hot Trending Songs Chart

Daniel Caesar’s 2023 album cut “Vince Van Gogh” works its way to No. 1 on Billboard’s May 20-dated Hot Trending Songs chart after BTS member V played the song in a recent Instagram Story update.

Billboard’s Hot Trending charts, powered by Twitter, track global music-related trends and conversations in real-time across Twitter, viewable over either the last 24 hours or past seven days. A weekly, 20-position version of the chart, covering activity from Friday through Thursday of each week, posts alongside Billboard’s other weekly charts on Billboard.com each Tuesday, with the latest tracking period running May 5-11.

“Vince Van Gogh,” found on Caesar’s album Never Enough, blasts in at No. 1 after V used the tune in an Instagram Story posted May 8.

It’s the first Billboard chart appearance for the song since its release. It premiered as part of Never Enough, which was released April 7 and debuted at No. 14 on the Billboard 200 dated April 22.

“Vince Van Gogh” is followed by a brand-new release in (G)I-DLE’s “Allergy,” which bows at No. 2. “Allergy” was released May 9 ahead of the eventual premiere of the girl group’s new EP I feel, which dropped May 15.

Stray Kids’ “FNF,” the ninth track from the boyband’s upcoming album 5-Star (June 2), starts at No. 3 after a teaser video for the song was posted May 11.

Another Stray Kids song from 5-Star, “Collision,” debuts at No. 5, with the two songs sandwiching a new release from Thirty Seconds to Mars, “Stuck,” at No. 4.

Keep visiting Billboard.com for the constantly evolving Hot Trending Songs rankings, and check in each Tuesday for the latest weekly chart.

16 May 2023

Lil Durk Announces Sorry for the Drought Tour With Kodak Black & NLE Choppa

After doling out his triumphant anthem “All My Life” with J. Cole last week, Lil Durk is not only marching toward the release date for his upcoming album Almost Healed, but now, a 27-city tour. 

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Titled Sorry for the Drought Tour, Lil Durk will embark on his trek beginning July 28 in Tampa. Durk’s three-month run will include performances in arenas and amphitheaters, notably in Los Angeles, Brooklyn and the rapper’s hometown of Chicago. Joining Durk on his tour will be Kodak Black, NLE Choppa and New York City rising star DD Osama. Produced by Live Nation, tickets for the tour will be available beginning Wednesday (May 17). General onsale will start Thursday (May 18) at 10 a.m. via Ticketmaster.com and Almost-Healed.com.

The Sorry for the Drought Tour comes after Durk’s successful The 7220 Tour last year. In 2022, Durk notched his second No. 1 on the Billboard 200 with 7220. The platinum effort garnered Billboard Hot 100 singles, including “What Happened to Virgil” featuring Gunna, and “Broadway Girls” with Morgan Wallen. 

In an interview with Billboard in April about launching the Durk Banks Scholarship, the artist also explained why he faced no pressure crafting his forthcoming album. “There ain’t no pressure,” he said. “The talent and the growth always been there. It just the things around it making it more bigger, like doing the scholarships, being more in tune with the foundation, sitting down with the mayor, and really giving back. That’s the part I was lacking on. I already had the music, now executing the plan is gonna make everything big. The biggest album ever.”

Durk’s upcoming album, Almost Healed, drops on May 26. Check out the tour dates for his Sorry for The Drought Tour below:

  • Fri Jul 28 – Tampa, FL – MIDFLORIDA Credit Union Amphitheater
  • Sat Jul 29 – Atlanta, GA – Lakewood Amphitheatre ^&
  • Sun Jul 30 – Charlotte, NC – PNC Music Pavilion
  • Tue Aug 01 – Virginia Beach, VA – Veterans United Home Loans Amphitheater at Virginia Beach 
  • Thu Aug 03 – Camden, NJ – Freedom Mortgage Pavilion 
  • Fri Aug 04 – Baltimore, MD – CFG Bank Arena ^
  • Sat Aug 05 – Brooklyn, NY – Barclays Center
  • Sun Aug 06 – Boston, MA – Xfinity Center
  • Tue Aug 08 – Newark, NJ – Prudential Center
  • Wed Aug 09 – Toronto, ON – Budweiser Stage ^
  • Fri Aug 11 – Chicago, IL – United Center
  • Sun Aug 13 – Indianapolis, IN – Ruoff Music Center
  • Tue Aug 15 – Detroit, MI – Pine Knob Music Theatre
  • Wed Aug 16 – Cleveland, OH – Blossom Music Center
  • Fri Aug 18 – St. Louis, MO – Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre
  • Sat Aug 19 – Kansas City, MO – T-Mobile Center
  • Mon Aug 21 – Houston, TX – Toyota Center
  • Tue Aug 22 – New Orleans, LA – Smoothie King Center 
  • Wed Aug 23 – Austin, TX               – Moody Center
  • Fri Aug 25 – Albuquerque, NM – Isleta Amphitheater
  • Sat Aug 26 – Denver, CO               – Ball Arena ^&
  • Tue Aug 29 – Seattle, WA – Climate Pledge Arena
  • Wed Aug 30 – Portland, OR – RV Inn Styles Resort Amphitheater
  • Fri Sep 01 – Oakland, CA  – Oakland Arena
  • Sat Sep 02 – San Diego, CA – North Island Credit Union Amphitheatre ^&
  • Wed Sep 06 – Los Angeles, CA – Kia Forum
  • Thu Sep 07 – Phoenix, AZ – Talking Stick Resort Amphitheatre

^Without support from Kodak Black

&Without support from NLE Choppa

16 May 2023

Bad Bunny Teases Emotional EDM Track: Listen to the Preview

Bad Bunny is at it again, teasing fans with more new music for 2023. 

In a one-minute video posted on his TikTok account Monday night (May 15), the Puerto Rican artist is in a vibrant room, rocking an all-black leather outfit and his natural curls. “Check this out,” he says in Spanish before pressing play. 

A dramatic melody then begins, backed by Bad’s signature deep vocals. “Baby, tell me the truth if you forgot about me/ I know it was only one night, that we’re not going to repeat/ In you I wanted to find what I lost in someone else/ Your pride doesn’t want to speak to me, so we’re going to compete,” he passionately chants in the opening verse. 

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Then, the rhythm transitions to a Jersey Club-inspired beat (a hybrid of house and hip-hop), where he continues, “I don’t like to lose, tell me what you’re doing to do.”   

In the caption, he asked his over 31 million followers, “Tell me if you like it and I’ll send it to you via WhatsApp :)” 

The upcoming single comes on the heels of his collaboration on Grupo Frontera hit “un x100to,” which marked his first time dipping his toes in the norteño-cumbia realm. The song earned Frontera its highest debut on Billboard’s Hot Latin Songs chart, entering at No. 3 on the April 29-dated ranking, and later hitting No. 1 on both the Latin Airplay chart and Billboard Global Excl. U.S. chart. 

Last year, the artist born Benito Antonio Martínez Ocasio told Billboard his plans of taking a break in 2023, but would still release music. 

“I’m taking a break. 2023 is for me, for my physical health, my emotional health to breathe, enjoy my achievements,” he said. “We’re going to celebrate. Let’s go here, let’s go there, let’s go on the boat. I have a couple of sporadic commitments, and I’ll go to the studio, but there’s no pressure. Remember yourself, cabrón. You’ve worked your a– off.”

Listen to the preview of his next single below: