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Ye — formerly Kanye West — is walking back earlier statements labeling himself a Nazi. West came to the realization on Wednesday (Feb. 19), retracting his previous statements in a new post to X.
“After further reflection I’ve come to the realization that I’m not a Nazi,” he wrote.
The backtracking on his heavily criticized comments — which saw him praising Adolf Hitler — comes just over a week since his series of antisemitic, homophobic and hate-filled X tirades earlier in February.
“I love Hitler, how what bi—es,” Ye wrote, which he followed up with, “I’m a Nazi.” He later added, “Hitler was sooooo fresh” and “call me Yaydolf Yitler.”
West had been selling T-shirts emblazoned with a black swastika logo for $20 on his Yeezy website, which was shut down by its marketplace partner Shopify.
West faced backlash for his remarks, as the Anti-Defamation League, Charlie Puth and Lyor Cohen all condemned Ye and pleaded with him to stop pushing antisemitic rhetoric.
“With antisemitism on the rise, your voice and influence carry a significant responsibility,” the former Def Jam president wrote in a letter to Ye. “I urge you to be more sensitive to the pain your words inflict on Jewish communities and all those who stand against hate.”
Back in October 2022, Ye fired off a series of antisemitic rants, including the “Death Con 3” tweet, which led to companies such as Adidas, Def Jam, Balenciaga, Gap and more cutting ties with the rapper.
“West is not just any person — he is a pop culture icon with millions of fans around the world,” Endeavor CEO Ari Emanuel wrote at the time. “And among them are young people whose views are still being formed. This is why it is necessary for all of us to speak out. Hatred and anti-Semitism should have no place in our society, no matter how much money is at stake.”
In another post on X, Ye responded to Adam Sandler seemingly referencing the musician during his performance on the SNL50: The Anniversary Special over the weekend, singing, “50 years of finding out your favorite musician’s antisemitic.” Ye chose to focus on the “favorite musician” part of the lyric, responding to the comic actor on X: “Adam Sandler Thank you for the love.”
One of Too $hort‘s songs has inspired a movie and it looks pretty good. Set in 1987 Oakland, starring Pedro Pascal, and narrated by the Bay Area legend himself, Freaky Tales tells the story of a career thief doing one last job before he calls it quits. Of course, we all know how that story […]
A$AP Rocky and Rihanna are going above and beyond a simple thank-you note to show their gratitude to Joe Tacopina — the lawyer who successfully led the rapper to a not guilty verdict in his felony shooting trial Tuesday (Feb. 19) — and it has to do with Baby No. 3.
In a video interview with Extra posted one day after the three-week legal proceedings wrapped up in Los Angeles, the attorney revealed that the couple jokingly promised to name their next child after him in celebration of their victory. “Rihanna and Rocky said to me in the courtroom yesterday, they grabbed me and they said, ‘Listen, our next baby is A$AP Joe,’” Tacopina told the outlet, smiling.
In theory, little A$AP Joe Mayers would join older brothers RZA, 2, and Riot, 1 — and Rocky and Rih have every reason to want to honor Tacopina. The Harlem native had been facing up to 24 years in prison over a November 2021 incident in which he’d been accused of firing a gun twice at former friend A$AP Relli, for which he was hit with two felony counts of assault with a firearm.
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But as seen by everyone in the court — and countless fans watching along — Rocky proved to be victorious in his fight against both counts, which he celebrated as soon as his not guilty verdict was read out by sprinting away from the defendant’s stand, jumping straight over a courtroom railing, and wrapping the Fenty mogul in a big hug. “THE GLORY BELONGS TO GOD AND GOD ALONE! THANKFUL, HUMBLED BY HIS MERCY!” Rihanna wrote on Instagram Stories shortly afterward.
Recalling the passionate moment from his POV, Tacopina told Extra, “I look to my right, he’s gone … he was just gone,” the lawyer said, laughing. “I said to my partner, ‘Did he leave?’ … And I see him on top of Rihanna… I couldn’t process quickly enough.”
Tacopina — whom Rocky also christened “A$AP Joe” outside the courthouse after the ruling — went on to share how close he and the two stars have gotten since they started working together on the case. He was even on hand to babysit RZA in 2023 back when Rih was preparing for her Super Bowl halftime show performance.
“All of a sudden, Rocky said, ‘Can you just take care of a baby? I’m getting a pedicure,’” Tacopina recalled. “There was a different type of relationship with him than with most clients.”
Watch Tacopina break down Rocky’s court win below.
Congratulations are in order for Cassie Ventura and husband Alex Fine, who are expecting their third child together. Ventura announced the news via Instagram, sharing a series of black-and-white family photos, with the “Me & U” singer dressed in jeans and a white button-down, her pregnant belly on display. In the snaps, she smiles alongside […]
Mrs. GREEN APPLE’s “Lilac” returns to No. 1 on the Billboard Japan Hot 100, dated Feb. 19, adding another week to its record atop the chart.
The single was digitally released on April 12, 2024 and hit No. 1 for the first time on the chart dated July 17. This week, it rises a notch to rule the tally for the sixth time after hovering for three weeks in the top 3.
Streaming and downloads for the Oblivion Battery opener remain largely unchanged compared to the week before, while karaoke increased by 15%. The track hits No. 1 for streaming, video views, and karaoke, while coming in at No. 4 for downloads.
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The three-man band dominates the top two slots on the Japan Hot 100 this week, with “Darling” rising 3-2. Video for the track gained 10% and downloads 28% from last week.
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Rosé & Bruno Mars’ “APT.” climbs 5-3. The global hit is slowing down in most metrics except karaoke, which increased by 14%. The track comes in at No. 9 for downloads, No. 3 for streaming, No. 26 for radio airplay, No. 9 for video, and No. 24 for karaoke. The catchy pop-punk single has been charting for 16 consecutive weeks on the Billboard Global 200 and is at No. 3 on the chart dated Feb. 22.
BE:FIRST’s “Spacecraft” is at No. 4 after debuting atop the chart last week. The single sold 5,664 copies on the second week after its release and hit No. 9 for sales, No. 2 for video (down by 27%), and No. 18 for streaming (down by 24%).
Kenshi Yonezu’s “Plazma” slips to No. 5. The Mobile Suit Gundam GQuuuuuuX -Beginning- theme song topped downloads for the first time in three weeks with figures down by 22% compared to the previous week, a smaller decrease than the 37% drop the week before.
Takanori Iwata’s “Phone Number,” the EXILE member’s first release after transferring to Universal Music, bowed at No. 11 on the Japan Hot 100 after launching with 51,209 CDs to top sales, while coming in at No. 46 for downloads.
In other news, Kendrick Lamar’s “Not Like Us” makes its debut on the Japan Hot 100, coming in at No. 86. This is due to a surge in radio airplay after the single won five Grammys — including Song of the Year and Record of the Year — and was featured in the Compton rapper’s electrifying Super Bowl halftime show performance. The track is also back atop the Billboard Hot 100 for the first time in 29 weeks, logging its third week at No. 1.
The Billboard Japan Hot 100 combines physical and digital sales, audio streams, radio airplay, video views and karaoke data.
See the full Billboard Japan Hot 100 chart, tallying the week from Feb. 10 to 16, here. For more on Japanese music and charts, visit Billboard Japan’s English X account.
Tate McRae is stepping into a new era with her third studio album, So Close to What, set for release Friday. To celebrate, McRae partnered with Spotify for an intimate listening party on Tuesday night at The Living Room in Los Angeles, where 40 fans got an exclusive first listen.
From the moment the first song played, the energy in the room was electric. Fans were dancing, jumping and fully immersed, reacting in real time as McRae unveiled her most personal and dynamic project yet.
The night wasn’t just about the music. It also featured a Q&A session with McRae’s best friend, social media personality Jake Shane. Their dynamic was effortless, filled with playful banter, inside jokes and genuine excitement for the album. Shane, one of McRae’s biggest supporters, couldn’t hide his enthusiasm, especially for his favorite track of the night. Before “Signs” played, he hyped it up to the room, blurting out, “It’s so good!” McRae laughed, adding, “It’s a really fun, sarcastic pop song. … I can’t wait for everyone to hear it.” The second it started, the entire room was moving. The track is pure spring and summer energy — made for blasting in the car, top down, cruising with friends.
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McRae’s So Close to What delivers a mix of vulnerability and high-energy anthems, showing her evolution as an artist. One of the biggest crowd favorites of the night was “Revolving Door.” The second it started, fans latched onto it, jumping and dancing without hesitation. It’s a song that demands movement, a full-blown party record with pulsing energy. The room was completely alive, and it was impossible not to picture this track blowing up on playlists and club remixes.
On the opposite end of the spectrum, “Purple Lace Bra” slowed things down, bringing an introspective, emotional energy. McRae described it as her response to the media, a raw and deeply personal track. Speaking on the theme of the album, she explained, “The album title encapsulates how I felt turning 21 … feeling like you’re finally a woman while also wrestling with how the media portrays you.”
Then there was “Green Light,” a track about the exhilarating-yet-terrifying feeling of falling in love again. It captures the tension of hesitation and excitement, like waiting at a green light, unsure whether to move forward. The mix of vulnerability and an infectious beat makes it an instant fan favorite — one of those songs that lingers long after it ends.
But the highlight of the night: “Bloodonmyhands,” featuring Flo Milli. The second the beat dropped, the entire room erupted. People stood up, danced and completely lost themselves in the music. It was giving summer 2016 — chaotic, fun, completely unfiltered energy. And Flo Milli, she ate. Her delivery, her confidence, her flow — she brought exactly what the song needed, and the crowd’s reaction said it all.
During the chat, McRae opened up about much of the album leaking ahead of her release date, which she called a “f—ing bummer.” “I was just so devastated because I’m like, ‘There’s nothing I can do about this.’” McRae combated the leak by getting back in the studio and writing some new songs to add to the project, including what would become the Flo Milli collab, plus “Like I Do.”
McRae also gave fans insight into her creative process, revealing that her alter ego played a big role in shaping some of the songs. “Tatiana, my alter ego, wrote a lot of the songs on the album — including ‘Sports Car,’” she shared of her latest single.
One of the most anticipated collaborations is “I Know Love,” her song with boyfriend The Kid Laroi, which came together in a way neither of them expected. “It was a really funny process, because me and Laroi have never really, like, taken each other seriously,” she laughed. “You know when you’re in a relationship and you sing around each other, but you don’t really, like, sing? So it was a little stressful being in the studio singing and writing in front of him, but it was a cool experience to watch him in his process.”
McRae closes the album with “Nostalgia,” a deeply personal track that lingers long after the final note. It’s the perfect ending to an album that takes listeners through every high and low.
The listening party proved that So Close to What will be a defining moment in McRae’s career. Fans connected instantly with the songs, and the energy in the room was undeniable. With her Miss Possessive Tour kicking off in March, this is just the beginning. If the reactions at the listening event were any indication, McRae’s biggest era yet has officially arrived.
Tate McRae and Jake Shane speak during an exclusive listening of ‘So Close to What’ with Tate McRae at The Living Room on February 18, 2025 in Los Angeles.
Emma McIntyre/Getty Images for Spotify
Sean “Diddy” Combs‘ attorneys have filed a motion seeking the dismissal of a sex trafficking charge in the hip-hop mogul’s indictment, citing the alleged racist origins of the count. Combs’ legal team, which made the filing official on Tuesday (Feb. 18) in New York federal court, argues that “no white person has ever been the […]
Spotify playlists are officially getting sticky. The streaming giant rolled out its new “Create Cover Art” feature on Wednesday (Feb. 19), which will allow fans to craft custom cover art tailored to their listening preferences. Explore Explore See latest videos, charts and news See latest videos, charts and news The new function features a collection […]
It’s been nearly 16 years since Lady Gaga and Beyoncé made a Thelma & Louise-style getaway in their “Telephone” collaboration, with the music video ending with the message, “To be continued…” Now, the story really is continuing. Explore See latest videos, charts and news See latest videos, charts and news Lady Gaga sat down with […]
Mahershala Ali is more than just an actor. The Bay Area native used to also have a rap career and still continues to champion the genre. He was recently asked by TikTok user @rohnthugsnharmony about which hip-hop story he would like to see on the silver screen, and the actor gave an intriguing answer. “There’s […]
