Music News
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Shane Gillis is pumped to host Saturday Night Live for the second time this weekend, but the cast members are still in recovery. In a new promo for the upcoming episode, Gillis walks backstage at Studio 8H with cast member Ashley Padilla, who asks how the comedian is feeling about his upcoming hosting gig. “I’m […]
The Lumineers’ Automatic debuts in the top 10 of multiple Billboard charts dated March 1, paced by its No. 2 starts on the Top Rock Albums and Americana/Folk Albums tallies. In the week ending Feb. 20, Automatic, The Lumineers’ fifth studio album, starts with 29,000 equivalent album units earned in the U.S., according to Luminate. […]
Andy Reid is not happy about the Taylor Swift slander. The Kansas City Chiefs coach joined NFL on NBC this week for a wide-ranging conversation about the Super Bowl, where he came to the “I Can Do It With a Broken Heart” singer’s defense after she was met with boos from the crowd at the […]
Another week means another new episode of Billboard Unfiltered. This episode was broadcasted live on Wednesday (Feb. 26) with the core four back together.
Drake and PartyNextDoor topped the Billboard 200 with $ome $exy $ongs 4 U earning 246,000 first-week units. The feat brings Drizzy to 14 No. 1 albums, which ties him for the most ever among soloists.
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Deputy Director Damien Scott thinks Drake cracked the code with his album sequencing in the streaming era with Views. “Views, to me, is where Drake figured it out. He’s like, ‘Oh, this long-ass album with a multitude of genres.’ He figured out how to make an album for the way people consume music now and then he kept trying to make that album over and over again,” he said. “He’s never dropped below a certain qualitative point where people are like, ‘I’m not gonna pay attention to this.’ … I’m curious to see what the staying power is.”
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Staff Writer Kyle Denis considered the first-week sales for Drake to be “soft” when comparing to his previous bodies of work. “I’ll never take away this kind of feat. Tying the record for most No. 1 albums by a rapper, that’s something to celebrate about. But at the same time, when you contextualize these numbers they’re kind of soft,” he said. “I think him not clearing 300,000 is pretty surprising to me… This is squarely more in his wheelhouse and he’s still 100K behind his collab albums he did with Future and 21 Savage.”
When looking ahead to the all-time No. 1 albums list, Billboard charts expert Trevor Anderson wonders if Drake albums will continue to remain events. “Will Drake ever come out and it’s eh, fine, top 10 or will they always be events?” Anderson pondered.
Deputy Editor Carl Lamarre reported that he’s hearing that Drake could possibly come with his next heavily-anticipated solo album this summer surrounding his three-night headlining performance across the pond at Wireless Festival.
Meanwhile, J. Cole returned with “Clouds” last week, and it appears a possible feud with Freddie Gibbs is brewing on the horizon. After side-stepping the Kendrick Lamar feud last year, would Cole step into the ring with Freddie Kane?
“If he were to go at Cole, I don’t have any inside information, but I don’t think Cole would be like, ‘I’m alright, man.’ Gibbs is basically calling him a b—h, like you’re not gonna squeeze off with anybody. The dude’s still an amazing rapper,” Scott said. “The circumstances around the Kendrick beef are very particular… It won’t be like that otherwise.”
Ye and The Game also reunited earlier this week and appeared to be using Tina Knowles as the duo’s creative muse while Yeezy teased Game’s The Documentary 3.
“He’s just too old to be acting like this,” Denis said. “45 and 47, really? It’s just so desperate and so pathetic and it’s so clear you want their attention and they haven’t given you it in recent years.”
Watch the full episode below.
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Tobe Nwigwe is no stranger to making statements. Whether through his music, his visuals, or his unmistakable aesthetic, the Houston-based artist has built a movement rooted in authenticity, culture and empowerment. Known for his socially conscious lyrics, intricate wordplay and powerful storytelling, Nwigwe has created a lane that seamlessly fuses hip-hop, African rhythms and spoken-word poetry. Now, he’s taking that same approach to fashion with his first-ever sneaker and apparel collaboration: “Reebok x Chukwu.”Since breaking onto the scene in the mid-2010s, Nwigwe has captivated audiences with his unique sound and bold visuals. His 2020 breakout moment, fueled by viral hits and a distinct creative vision, solidified his place as an artist who refuses to conform. Everything he does carries deeper meaning—from the messages in his songs to the mint green color that has become synonymous with his brand. His music isn’t just about beats and rhymes; it’s a movement that celebrates identity, heritage, and purpose.
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That same energy translates directly into “Reebok x Chukwu.” The collection dropped February 21st and is a tribute to his Nigerian roots, blending archival sportswear aesthetics with modern design. At the center of it all is the Chukwu OTU, a reimagined version of the classic Reebok Preseason Turf Trainer. The name “OTU” means “One” in Igbo, symbolizing unity and greatness—core themes in Nwigwe’s music and personal journey. With a mix of hairy suede, nubuck leather, and textile overlays, the sneaker merges past and present, honoring tradition while pushing the boundaries of style.
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Chukwu Mint Sneaker
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But this isn’t just about footwear. The Chukwu collection also includes a lineup of apparel inspired by sport and culture. The standout piece? A football jersey featuring the number 88 — a tribute to his wife, Fat, and their five children, who are his biggest inspirations. There’s also a heavyweight graphic hoodie, a mock-neck tee and a pair of zip-off pants designed for versatility and so much more products. All executed in Nwigwe’s signature mint green and black. Every detail is intentional, every stitch tells a story.
For me, this collection is an absolute Flex. I need just about everything in it, from the jersey to the OTU sneakers. The design, the storytelling, and the deeper cultural meaning make it more than just another sneaker collab — it’s a true reflection of Tobe’s artistry. If you’re like me, you’ll be online trying to grab every piece before they continue to sell out. The question is: Where do you stand? Is this collection a Flex, a Trade or a Fade?
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The 2025 Oscars are just around the corner, and Live With Kelly and Mark is celebrating Wicked‘s big award year. In a two-minute clip shared by the morning show on Tuesday (Feb. 25), Mark Consuelos and Kelly Ripa take turns reciting the opening line: “The Land of Oz-cars, where envy is green and faces defy […]
It’s a homecoming for Master P. The New Orleans rap dignitary has been named the President of Basketball Operations at the University of New Orleans.
The move was made official during a press conference on Wednesday (Feb. 26) where P — born Percy Miller — revealed his plans to restore glory to his hometown university’s basketball program.
“Today is history,” he began. “We’ve come a long way. Growing up in New Orleans, when I was a kid, I looked at the University of New Orleans basketball program as probably one of the best in the country. Every kid wanted to come to the Lakefront Arena and be a part of this.”
Master P continued: “I’m just so appreciative and blessed that God has given me this opportunity … to rebuild this program. We gonna change this. This is our culture, this is our team and this is our family. We want to give that family love out here to the city to bring the people back where it should be at.”
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The No Limit Records boss is promising to “change the culture” at UNO, and he’s got his work cut out for him, as the Privateers fell to a lowly 4-25 following loss to Texas A&M-Commerce on Monday (Feb. 24). The team is yet to secure a win on its home floor this season.
The 2024-2025 Privateers season has been draped in controversy, as The Field of 68‘s Jeff Goodman reported on Wednesday that the University of New Orleans has held out four of its top five starters on suspension due to an ongoing gambling investigation.
The team has lost eight straight games in the players’ absence. They last suited up on Jan. 27. “Leading scorer James White (19.2 ppg), Jah Short (9.2 ppg), Dae Dae Hunter (8.2 ppg) and Jamond Vincent (7.8 ppg) have all been out since the 74-58 loss to UIW,” Goodman wrote. “There is currently an ongoing school and NCAA investigation.”
https://twitter.com/GoodmanHoops/status/1894744804015194305?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Etweet
Master P has quite the hoops background in his own right. He was on a college basketball scholarship at the University of Houston before injuring his knee. P battled back to earn pre-season roster spots on the Charlotte Hornets and Toronto Raptors in 1998 and 1999, but was cut before the regular season.
He passed down his love of basketball to his children. P’s son Hercy Miller suits up for Southern Utah University, while Mercy Miller is a freshman at the University of Houston. The Houston Cougars are currently ranked No. 4 in the country and a bona fide National Championship contender.
Watch the full press conference below.
Vince Staples and his manager Corey Smyth made an appearance on After Hours podcast and talked about how they were able to get Netflix to understand the concept behind The Vince Staples Show.
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“A lot of the times people undermine the intelligence of the audience, and then that becomes learned behavior,” he explained. “And I feel like a lot of the time we just have to have conversation like, ‘OK, we’re making a dark comedy in the streaming era … some are on television and have commercial breaks. We ended up putting title cards in the show because it was important to have tonal breaks in this dry, slow show or else we end up boring. There’s a big difference between boring and interesting, but there’s also a fine line between the two.”
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Staples then brought up some executives and fans having trouble disassociating Vince the rapper and the person with Vince the character. “The way the show was written — and this was always the intention — The Vince Stapes Show is not about Vince Staples as a character,” the Long Beach rapper and actor said. “It’s about a perspective. It’s The Vince Staples Show because I made it not because it’s about me. I think that was a hard thing for a lot of people to grasp. Going from writing for me and then writing for the characters it became kind of a disconnect because they’re expecting me to come in and write a show about myself, but I’m writing a show about other people and how they view me in the world.”
He then got into being underestimated when it came to tone, execution and directorial style while also dealing with a big company such as Netflix. “I just don’t think people think I know as much as I do about certain things,” he suggested. “So, if I’m making a show, they’re expecting me to have seen certain shows. They always say, ‘This is like Curb [Your Enthusiasm], have you ever seen Curb?’ And I say I haven’t seen it, but I know who Larry David is, I’m familiar with his work and I like it.”
Staples continued, “That would kind of throw people for a loop, so then it would get shaky. Especially when you’re dealing with a big company with a lot of finances and a lot of things on their slate it’s not wrong to answer those questions for them. I think that’s the place a lot of creative people have to get to.”
He added, “Of course, I’m going to ask what you’re doing if I don’t know what you’re doing. But sometimes that hurts people, so we just wanted to make sure that we were communicating and letting people know the real influences, the real identity of the show, and the way I wanted it to be.”
Last May, Netflix picked up The Vince Staples Show for its second season. Still no word on a release date yet, though.
You can watch the conversation below.
Drake becomes the first act in the 12-year history of Billboard’s Streaming Songs chart to earn 100 top 10s, scoring four new top 10s on the March 1-dated survey.
The rapper achieves the feat via songs from his new collaborative album with PARTYNEXTDOOR, $ome $exy $ongs 4 U, which concurrently debuts at No. 1 on the Billboard 200, as previously reported.
“Gimme a Hug” leads the way, debuting at No. 4 with 24.5 million official U.S. streams earned in the week ending Feb. 20, according to Luminate.
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Drake’s other new top 10s include “Nokia” (No. 7, 20.2 million streams), PARTYNEXTDOOR and Drake’s “CN Tower” (No. 9, 19.8 million streams) and PARTYNEXTDOOR, Drake and Yebba’s “Die Trying” (No. 10, 18 million streams).
Drake now boasts 103 top 10s on Streaming Songs, which was first published as of the Jan. 26, 2013, Billboard charts. He was part of the region on the inaugural ranking as a featured artist on A$AP Rocky’s “F–kin Problems” (alongside 2 Chainz and Kendrick Lamar), which ranked at No. 10 (and ultimately peaked at No. 2 in February 2013). His first top 10 as a lead artist followed that March with the No. 3 peak of “Started From the Bottom.”
His 103 top 10s is nearly double the next closest act; Taylor Swift has the second most at 58.
Most Top 10s, Streaming Songs
103, Drake
58, Taylor Swift
35, Lil Baby
33, Kendrick Lamar
33, The Weeknd
32, 21 Savage
31, Future
31, Travis Scott
Drake also holds the record for the most No. 1s on the chart: 20, 11 ahead of his next-closest competitor, Swift.
And the mark for most chart entries overall? Drake too — with 15 new appearances on the March 1 chart, he now has 277 entries; Swift is second with 179.
Concurrently, as previously reported, “Gimme a Hug” debuts at No. 6 on the multimetric Billboard Hot 100, leading all 21 songs from $ome $exy $ongs 4 U onto the ranking.
Drake postponed the remaining handful of dates on his Anita Max Wynn Tour slated to run through Australia and New Zealand in March. And now, fans are reacting to the unexpected news. It all started after rep for Drake confirmed Tuesday (Feb. 25) that the trek was delayed due to a “scheduling conflict” in a […]