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Tate McRae was in a Folklore mood ahead of her Miss Possessive Tour show in Stuttgart, Germany, with the star choosing a deep cut from the fan-favorite Taylor Swift album to cover during soundcheck on Tuesday (May 13).
In a clip taken by a fan in the audience, McRae sits casually on a stool in bright blue track pants, reading lyrics off her phone. Accompanied by a gentle acoustic guitar, the Canadian singer-songwriter softly puts her own spin on the introspective post-breakup ballad “The 1,” crooning, “I have this dream you’re doing cool sh–/ Having adventures on your own/ You meet some woman on the Internet and take her home.”
“But we were something, don’t you think so?/ Roaring 20s, tossing pennies in the pool,” she continues, adding her own subtle changes to the melody on the song’s chorus. “And if my wishes came true/ It would’ve been you.”
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Released in 2020 along with the rest of Folklore, “The 1” is the very first song on the album’s track list. It debuted at No. 4 on the Billboard Hot 100, and Folklore would later take home album of the year at the 2021 Grammys.
McRae’s covers have become a tradition during her soundchecks before concerts. She also performed Billie Eilish’s “Birds of a Feather,” Olivia Rodrigo’s “Pretty Isn’t Pretty” and Morgan Wallen and Post Malone’s “I Had Some Help” at various shows on her 2024 Think Later trek.
The “Greedy” singer is currently touring in support of her 2025 album So Close to What, which debuted atop the Billboard 200 — McRae’s first-ever No. 1 album. The project features Hot 100 hits “Sports Car,” “Revolving Door,” “2 Hands” and “It’s OK I’m OK.”
Following her show in Germany, McRae will next perform in Antwerp, Belgium, followed by venues in Dublin, London, Paris and more cities throughout Europe. She’ll later kick off a North American leg in August, closing out Nov. 8 at the Kia Forum in Inglewood, Calif.
The rap game could use some more posse cuts, and Red Bull is providing just that with the third season of their “Red Bull Spiral Freestyle” series.
Shot in one take, season 3 kicks off with the Midwest, West Coast and East Coast being properly represented by the likes of Detroit’s Big Sean, Carson’s Ab-Soul and Brooklyn’s Joey Bada$$, respectively.
Sean starts things off with a stellar verse taking aim at social media critics who live on the Internet. “You goin’ nowhere fast but from your view you could never tell,” he raps. “No wonder ‘cause you live your life based on a carousel/ You bums could prolly teach a masterclass on takin’ L’s/ Truth is, if you wake up hatin’ life, then you hate yourself.”
Ab-Soul then comes through and takes off his J Dilla hat to Sean before going in and addressing Joey’s back-and-forth with Ab’s friend Daylyt and TDE labelmate Ray Vaughn. “In which case, Joey, you put me in a sticky predicament,” Soulo admits. “I had to show solidarity to my syndicate/ Nah, you know anybody can get it/ In such a way that it will make any physician conflicted/ But listen, the 47’s still on my tricep/ Pass the pot, let me skillet, I’m quite the chef.”
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He added: “Pro Era the masters, that ain’t ever incorrect/ But it’s still TDE ’til 3000 and forever/ Lyt was heavy and Ray definitely stepped/ But this is hip-hop, you know we still on that.”
Joey then closes the cypher out by replying to fans suggesting that he’s been trying to ignite another East vs. West beef when he dropped the video for “The Ruler’s Back,” where he mentions a famous Jay-Z line about West Coast admiration. “Since ‘Ruler’s Back,’ they been tryna measure up,” he spits. “Look, my name ain’t Rick, but I talk Slick, don’t press ya luck/ And I ain’t taking no words back, I’m with all that/ But this ain’t gotta turn to nothin’ else, let’s keep it all rap.”
The Brooklyn rapper then brings up the heat he was taking from fans, rapping, “First off, I could never hate the West Coast/ But since n—as comin’ for Joe, f— it then, let’s go/ N—as must’ve forgot what Dot said on ‘Control’/ There’s still a buncha sensitive rappers in they pajama clothes/ I guess this ain’t no East versus West/ I just think that I’m the best, as a matter fact, I know.”
You can watch the new Red Bull Spiral Freestyle below.
Luis Alvarado, spokesperson for Los Alegres del Barranco, is defending the Mexican band’s right to perform narcocorridos freely, without being punished by authorities.
“Everyone who tells stories, whether with a pencil or an accordion, has the right to tell them,” Alvarado tells Billboard Español.
In an interview on Monday night, the group’s spokesperson rejected the actions taken against the quartet by the Fiscalía de Jalisco (Jalisco State Prosecutor’s Office), which accuses them of allegedly supporting drug trafficking. The band projected images of Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes, also known as “El Mencho,” leader of the Jalisco Cartel – New Generation, while performing the song “El Del Palenque” on March 29 at the Telmex Auditorium in the municipality of Zapopan.
Jalisco is one of 10 out of 32 states in Mexico that have put bans on narcocorridos or any kind of expression that glorifies crime, even though it’s not a federal law. Los Alegres del Barranco is the first group officially accused of allegedly promoting drug culture, along with their manager and the promoter of their concerts.
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At a hearing held on Monday at a court in Jalisco, the judge ordered precautionary measures like showing up at the court every week, paying a bond of 1.8 million pesos (around $92,000), and staying in Jalisco, except for three previously scheduled shows outside the state, at least for the next three months. The judge did not order pretrial detention, so they’ll be able to continue their defense while remaining free.
For Alvarado, this historic criminal case is about more than just the potential legal consequences. In his opinion, it “violates freedom of expression” and goes against a tradition that dates back to the time of the Mexican Revolution (1910–1917), serving as an alternative narrative to the official history, according to experts interviewed by Billboard Español.
Alvarado talked about the steps Los Alegres del Barranco will take to face justice in Jalisco, where they have four open investigations for performances in different municipalities where they allegedly glorified criminal activity.
How is the group feeling after Monday’s hearing and the start of an unprecedented criminal case for alleged glorification of crime?
At the moment, our legal team has advised us not to share details about the judicial process, but we did want to express how the members of the group are feeling. I must say that, although this challenge has been very difficult for them, they remain strong and understand the heavy burden they carry — not only because of the possibility of being punished, but because they are defending an entire musical genre at this moment. As musicians, and alongside journalists, they are standing up for freedom of expression in democratic societies. The line between what is legal and what isn’t is still very blurred. Different government officials have varying opinions, and that’s how democracy works. That’s why they are facing this challenge with focus and determination, but always holding their heads high.
Is there trust in Mexican authorities?
This is where we are right now. They understand that this isn’t a sprint; it’s a marathon. Since the judicial process isn’t immediate, it will take time, as it should, because every issue being reviewed by the judicial system and the government needs time for all voices to be heard. All the group asks is that the members of the judicial system reviewing their case remain independent. The group has faith in the process, and we have a strong legal team supporting us all the way. They will remain strong, but most importantly, they will stay positive.
In addition to Los Alegres del Barranco, other artists like Natanael Cano and Junior H have been called out in other states, although no criminal proceedings have been initiated. How do you see the outlook for corrido performers?
Los Alegres del Barranco are asking for support from all musical groups in the genre — not just those who perform corridos, but also norteño musicians and all artists working in this profession in Mexico. They are calling for unity and for all artists to have the right to freedom of expression.
Would you agree to regulation of narcocorridos without outright prohibition?
I insist, it’s still a very unclear landscape, but like any law that affects so many people, there should be a process to make things clearer and reduce confusion and problems for groups in the future. If that means there should be regulation, we’ll be able to decide what the band will support or not after we finish this proceeding.
The group won an injunction in Michoacán to temporarily perform narcocorridos. Will they attend the hearing scheduled for Thursday (May 15) in that state?
Michoacán is a perfect example of how people can have different opinions about the same issue. The process of figuring out how an artist can practice their profession can vary from state to state, and that’s where we’re working to understand the unique challenges the band faces in each state, while making sure we follow the law and still keep the audience entertained.
We will attend any hearing the government requires us to, and we do everything under the guidance of our legal team. I can’t say this with absolute certainty, but as far as I know, yes, they will travel to Michoacán for the hearing.
What will happen with the tourist and work visas that were revoked by the U.S. government for the group?
We understand from the statement made by the U.S. Deputy Secretary of State, Christopher Landau, that they have been canceled. I can’t confirm it personally since the group hasn’t traveled yet, but I trust Deputy Secretary Landau’s word, and we’re treating it as a fact.
What’s next?
We are navigating this with all the necessary attention to detail to avoid any mishap that could not only impact the group but the entire music industry. Los Alegres del Barranco have never faced a challenge like the one they are confronting today.
50 Cent is getting back on the road. The G-Unit boss announced that he’ll be heading to Europe with a stop in North Africa for the Legacy Tour on Tuesday (May 13).
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The trek kicks off across the pond in Germany on June 8 with additional stops in England, Morocco, London, Scotland, Switzerland, Paris, Denmark and the tour wraps up in Poland on Aug. 10.
It’s going to be a special tour for 50, who will be celebrating his 50th birthday on stage with a concert bash in Dublin on July 6.
“The Legacy Tour is here. I’m hitting Europe this summer to celebrate the music, the moments—and my 50th birthday. You know it’s gonna be crazy! Get your tickets now,” he wrote to Instagram. Tickets are currently available on 50’s website.
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The post is accompanied by a cinematic trailer 50 posted to his Instagram, running through various electric performances from his career spanning the last 20-plus years, filled with cameos ranging from G-Unit to Eminem and LeBron James.
The hip-hop legend is currently coming off his Final Lap Tour, which took the star around the globe in 2023 and grossed $103.6 million, with 1.05 million tickets sold across the 83 shows. At the time, he was only the second-ever headlining rapper to do so, joining Drake.
The Queens icon also took over Las Vegas for a six-show residency at Ph Live at Planet Hollywood to close out 2024 and ring in 2025.
“It’s cool. You don’t usually have artists that sustain themselves this long in our culture,” he told Billboard last year. “Hip-hop has a low attention span, and it’s out with the old and in with the new repeatedly. There’s even a point [where] they’ll create a resistance for you.”
Find all of the dates of 50 Cent’s Legacy Tour below:
Reneé Rapp is finally getting ready to sink her teeth into her next era. After two years of keeping fans waiting for new music, the singer-songwriter has revealed that she has a new song titled “Bite Me” arriving later this month.
In a saucy video posted to her social media accounts Tuesday (May 13), Rapp faces away from the camera while flexing both of her biceps, her long blonde hair falling down her bare back as she forgoes a shirt or bra. Shaking her head, the Mean Girls actress shows off a backwards baseball cap that reads, “Bite Me.”
Rapp also paired the clip with a snippet of the new song, which finds her purring over a slinking beat, “I’m a real bad girl, but a real good kisser.”
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The teaser comes nearly two years after she dropped debut studio album, Snow Angel, which debuted at No. 44 on the Billboard 200. Three months after the original LP arrived in August 2023, Rapp unveiled a deluxe edition in November.
The following December, the Broadway star teamed up with Megan Thee Stallion for “Not My Fault” for the Mean Girls musical live action soundtrack.
Since Snow Angel, Rapp has been taking her time with her next album while also touring and performing at festivals. In July last year, she opened up about her upcoming second full-length effort in an interview on Instagram’s Close Friends Only podcast, saying, “23 to 24 has been such a massive difference for me.”
“It’s about this … and to this point, a reflection on my 23rd year specifically … It was so bad, and I thought 22 was insane for me,” she continued. “I think the rawness of those emotions adds a layer of authenticity to my music. It’s like, in that moment of vulnerability, I can tap into something deeper and more genuine.”
See Rapp’s new music teaser below.
Universal Music Group (UMG) announced a new project with Apple Music on Tuesday (May 13) “to help listeners attain clearer focus, deeper relaxation, and better sleep,” according to a press release. The initiative, called Sound Therapy, takes songs listeners are already familiar with — including tracks from Imagine Dragons, Katy Perry, Kacey Musgraves, Jhené Aiko, […]
Bad Bunny continues to build on the success of the chart-topping album Debí Tirar Más Fotos, as its single “DTMF” climbs 4-1 on the Latin Rhythm Airplay chart, marking his 28th ruler.
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“DTMF” hits No. 1 in its 15th week on the chart, despite a 2% dip in audience impressions, earning 6.2 million in the U.S. in the tracking week ending May 8, according to Luminate. Meanwhile, its parent album, his sixth studio set, returns to No. 1 on the all-genre Billboard 200 for a fourth nonconsecutive week, thanks to its vinyl release, while it adds an 18th week at No. 1 on Top Latin Albums.
“DTMF” is the second song from Debí Tirar Más Fotos to reach the Latin Rhythm Airplay chart’s apex, after “El Clúb” crowned the chart for three weeks in February. Plus, it awards Benito his 28th No. 1, all within a period of seven years. Overall, he trails only J Balvin (37 champs), Daddy Yankee (35), and Ozuna (32), for the most No. 1s in the chart’s history.
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“DTMF” arrives at the summit on Latin Rhythm Airplay, as it adds a 17th week atop the Hot Latin Songs chart, of its 18 total weeks on the list (which blends streams, airplay and sales). It holds strong at No. 1 despite a 2% dip in streams, to 7.8 million, but enough to yield a concurrent 17th week atop Latin Streaming Songs.
The song remains the longest-leading track on the multi-metric tally since Eslabon Armado and Peso Pluma’s “Ella Baila Sola” concluded its 19th week No. 1 run in August 2019. Hot Latin Songs combines streaming activity, radio airplay and digital sales into its formula.
“DTMF” also gains momentum on the overall Latin Airplay chart, rising 9-5 for its new peak.
Thanks to the double vinyl release of Debí Tirar Más Fotos, the album returns to No. 1 on the all-genre Billboard 200 chart. It also extends its reign on the Top Latin Albums chart, reaching an 18th week at No. 1, encompassing its entire chart run.
Katy Perry is feeling the love from her fans, despite any hate she might get online.
At her Lifetimes Tour show in Chicago on Monday (May 12), the pop star joked about her public image with the crowd at the United Center. In a clip taken by one concertgoer, Perry reacts to the audience’s thunderous applause by quipping, “Well, I thought I was the most hated person on the internet.”
As the fans continue to clap and cheer, the “Firework” singer adds, “I think that’s false!”
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The show in Chicago comes a few weeks after Perry kicked off her Lifetimes trek supporting 2024 album 143 in Mexico City in late April. Earlier that month, she was part of Blue Origin’s first all-woman space flight — a highly criticized venture that has led to the musician experiencing an influx in negative comments on social media, as alluded to by Perry on stage.
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Before that, the former American Idol judge drew criticism for working with Dr. Luke on her single “Woman’s World,” despite allegations of sexual assault leveraged against him by Kesha. In 2014, the “Tik Tok” singer accused the producer of drugging and raping her in 2005, claims he called “false and shocking”; he then sued her for defamation, sparking a nine-year legal battle that finally resolved when the two parties reached a settlement in 2023.
In September, Perry addressed her decision to collaborate with Dr. Luke on Call Her Daddy, acknowledging that the move “started a lot of conversations.” “He was one of many collaborators that I collaborated with,” she added. “But the reality is, it comes from me. The truth is, I wrote these songs from my experience of my whole life going through this metamorphosis, and he was one of the people to help facilitate all that.”
Between her work with Dr. Luke and the space expedition, Perry has certainly seen an uptick in online hate. But in addition to shrugging it off in Chicago, the star also recently got candid with fans about how she’s faring in the face of it all.
“Please know I am ok, I have done a lot work around knowing who I am, what is real and what is important to me,” she commented on Instagram in April. “My therapist said something years ago that has been a game changer: ‘No one can make you believe something about yourself that you don’t already believe about yourself.’ And if I ever do have any feelings about it, then it’s an opportunity to investigate the feeling underneath it.”
After working with more than a dozen collaborators on her acclaimed Brat remix album, Charli xcx may have just found her next duet partner: PinkPantheress.
On X Monday (May 12), the “Von Dutch” singer reacted to a post about the “Boy’s a Liar Pt. 2” musician recently saying that she’d definitely be down to work with Charli someday. In a Paper cover story published the day prior, PinkPantheress had gushed, “I mean, of course. If the opportunity ever comes up, I would love to.”
And in response, Charli returned the interest. “Well hello,” she wrote.
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The acknowledgement comes shortly after the Essex-born hitmaker praised PinkPantheress’s music video for new single “Tonight,” which arrived in April. “i love the new pinkpanthress video
BOYNEXTDOOR returned this week with their fourth EP, No Genre, and they’re back to “breaking out of the mold.”
The six-member K-pop boy band — SUNGHO, RIWOO, JAEHYUN, TAESAN, LEEHAN and WOONHAK — debuted in 2023 and has always prioritized being hands-on with their work. This time around, JAEHYUN, TAESAN and WOONHAK are all credited throughout the EP’s track list as songwriters. Following the release of “If I Say, I Love You” in January, the full seven-track No Genre project arrived on Tuesday (May 13) in South Korea along with lead single “I Feel Good” and its music video.
Billboard caught up with the group during release week to talk about the just-released project, working on their music, and what to expect from their debut performance at Lollapalooza, going down July 31-Aug. 3 at Chicago’s Grant Park. Check out our conversation below, and stick with @Billboard socials for more from the septet coming throughout this summer.
What does the title of your fourth EP, No Genre, mean to you?
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LEEHAN: To us, “No Genre” means breaking out of the mold. We’re a group that genuinely loves all kinds of music, and rather than confining ourselves to a single style, we wanted this album to reflect our openness and freedom. By being directly involved in the creative process, we were able to tell fresher and more exciting stories in our own way.
Why is it important to BOYNEXTDOOR to have the group members so involved in writing and producing your music?
TAESAN: It allows us to fully express what we want to say through our music. Writing and producing our own songs lets us tell our own stories in a way that feels real and personal.
WOONHAK: We believe our music is only complete when it reflects our own emotions and real-life experiences. By taking part in the songwriting process, we’re able to deliver honest and relatable stories in our own voice. I feel like that’s what makes our songs feel instinctive and unfiltered.
What are you planning for your first performance at Lollapalooza later this summer?
JAEHYUN: We’re working hard to make our stage feel more interactive and alive. We’ve been studying English to better communicate with the audience, and we’re also trying out new ideas to make our performance even more engaging.
RIWOO: Since Lollapalooza brings together a wide audience of people who love music and the festival experience, we’re preparing a performance that anyone can enjoy.
What did you learn from your KCON LA performances last year that you’ll bring to your Lollapalooza set?
SUNGHO: At KCON LA, we learned how important it is to create a stage where everyone feels like part of the moment. For Lollapalooza, we want to bring that same energy, where everyone can let loose and have fun with us. Since it’s our first time at Lollapalooza, we want to leave a strong impression and make sure people remember the name BOYNEXTDOOR.
