Music News

23 Dec 2024

Sevdaliza Earns First Latin Radio Top 10 With Karol G Collab ‘No Me Cansaré’

Iranian Dutch singer-songwriter Sevdaliza earns her first top 10 on a Billboard Latin radio chart thanks to “No Me Cansaré,” her maiden collab with Karol G, which rallies 17-9 on the Latin Pop Airplay chart (dated Dec. 28).

The bilingual song jumps to the top 10 on Latin Pop Airplay after a 1.7 million gain in audience impressions earned during the Dec. 13-19 tracking week, according to Luminate; that’s a 52% increase compared to the previous frame. The song was released Oct. 18 on Bichota/Interscope/Broke/Create Music Group.

With “No Me Cansaré,” Sevdaliza grabs her first top 10 on any Latin radio ranking, after the song opened at No. 22 less than a month ago, on the Nov. 30-dated list. The new win, however, becomes her second top 10 on a Latin chart overall, as the collab debuted and peaked at No. 5 on Latin Digital Song Sales (Nov. 2-dated survey).

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Prior to her radio and sales charts visits, the singer enjoyed some popularity on the multi-metric Hot Latin Songs chart (which combines radio airplay, streaming activity and digital downloads into its formula) where “Ride Or Die, Pt. 2,” her three-way team-up with Villano Antillano and Tokischa, peaked at No. 43 in May. There, “No Me Cansaré” reached No. 35 high in early November, for her highest rank among two total entries.

Back to Latin Pop Airplay, the song marks Karol G’s 15th top 10 career hit. The hitmaker placed one other song in the top 10 there in 2024, the No. 2-peaking “Contigo,” with Tiesto (June 1-dated list). Prior, “TQG,” with Shakira, took both Colombians to No. 1 in April 2023, where the song held strong atop for the 14 weeks, the most that year.

All charts (dated Dec. 28, 2024) will update on Billboard.com tomorrow (Dec. 24). For all chart news, you can follow @billboard and @billboardcharts on both X, formerly known as Twitter, and Instagram.

23 Dec 2024

KISS OF LIFE Is Billboard’s K-Pop Rookie of the Month for December: Exclusive Photos

KISS OF LIFE, true to their name, are breathing new life into the K-pop scene.

Debuting with their first mini-album KISS OF LIFE on July 5, 2023, the group has steadily gained both recognition and sales in the Korean market. Their first single album “Midas Touch” earned them their debut on the Billboard Global 200 chart, peaking at No. 165 and remaining on the chart for two weeks. In a K-pop industry increasingly dominated by major corporations, KISS OF LIFE has been dubbed the “miracle of mid-sized companies.”

For the group’s growth, Belle shared, “We used to only dream about moments like these, and now we made our dream come true. Winning our first music show trophy with ‘Sticky,’ a song we particularly love, made us feel like our hard work and confidence in our music had finally paid off.”

The group’s uniqueness is evident in both the concept and tracks of their mini-album KISS OF LIFE. They chose to present their album in a “magazine” format, showcasing their visuals in a distinct way. Moreover, from the very beginning, all members included solo tracks on the album, with Natty’s “Sugarcoat” achieving even greater success than the title track “Shhh,” solidifying KISS OF LIFE’s name in the public’s mind.

One of the group’s defining traits is their nostalgia. Tracks like “Bad News” left a strong impression with its incorporation of 1990s and 2000s hip-hop elements, including iconic phrases like “ain’t no diggity” and “from the east side to the west side.” Their latest single “Get Loud” evokes the Neptunes-era sounds of Britney Spears and Justin Timberlake. However, the group’s music isn’t confined to these influences. Their summer anthem “Sticky” brought them their biggest success yet, while “Igloo,” with its minimalist production and powerful choreography, marked their re-entry on the Billboard 200 chart. These diverse approaches continue to raise anticipation for what lies ahead.

By seamlessly blending American hip-hop/R&B elements with K-pop, KISS OF LIFE has emerged as a rookie group worth watching. Stepping outside the conventional paths to success, they’ve proven that K-pop can still offer fresh sounds and styles. Just over a year after their debut, they completed a successful North American tour and are now preparing for a European tour — a remarkable feat for such a young group.

Below, find Billboard Korea’s Q&A with the rising group.

It seems like KISS OF LIFE has had a really busy year!

Belle: It’s been an incredibly busy year. Thanks to all the love we’ve received, we were able to have multiple comebacks, hold our first concert, and even complete our first tour in such a short time. It really feels like a year of tremendous growth — both as a group and as individual artists exploring our own paths.

Haneul: I thought last year was hectic, but this year really felt like we poured all our youth into it. [Laughs]

As mentioned, you achieved a lot this year, including another Billboard Global 200 entry, your first world tour and first music show win. What has been the most memorable moment for you?

Belle: Winning our first music show trophy is something I’ll never forget. It was a dream we always talked about, and achieving it with “Sticky,” a song we love so much, made us feel like all our hard work and confidence in our music finally paid off.

Haneul: It’s amazing that the song kept charting even after our next album came out!

Julie: Every moment we achieve something, it feels unforgettable and precious, but for now, I’d say our U.S. tour stands out the most. We gained so much experience and grew a lot, and I already miss those memories!

Natty: I was so happy to see so many overseas fans knowing and singing along to our songs!

Many artists say that after their first world tour, their perspective broadens and they begin to see things they hadn’t noticed before. What has changed for KISS OF LIFE after their KISS ROAD tour?

Julie: It’s hard to pick just one thing, but I’d say our attitude toward the stage. I’ve started to think more deeply about the mind-set I bring to every performance.

Belle: I realized I don’t need to be nervous onstage. People enjoy seeing me have fun and relax while performing, and I loved the connection we shared with the audience — it’s the joy of music at its best!

Upward trajectory is often seen as the most beautiful graph. The response to KISS OF LIFE has been just that, with sales and reactions steadily increasing from mini-album 1 to mini-album 3.

Belle: We’ve kept moving forward with nonstop comebacks and activities, but I think the key has been focusing on what makes us unique and keeping our fans engaged. Above all, I believe our genuine love for music has resonated with people.

While “Get Loud” from “Lose Yourself” didn’t receive the response you had hoped for, “Igloo” was met with a hot response, particularly for its performance. Who came up with the concept of the sunglasses performance?

Belle: It was the idea of our performance director, who’s been with us since debut. They understand us so well and always come up with unique performances that highlight each of our individual charms. The moment we all put on sunglasses felt like a Super Bowl performance and was both cool and playful.

Haneul: The company was concerned about covering our faces, but we all agreed to go ahead with it and in the end, it worked out perfectly.

Natty: At first, we were all a bit worried! It was our first time covering our faces during a performance, so there were some concerns, but we trusted the vision, and the response was amazing! Fans even bring sunglasses to our concerts now!

“Igloo” presented a different vibe compared to previous KISS OF LIFE music and performances.

Haneul: I expected it to be cool, but I didn’t expect such a hot response. [Laughs]

Julie: This was a style I always wanted to try, and personally I felt most confident in it, so I believed people would recognize it, and I’m so happy that we received so much love!

Belle: We had a feeling that the “Igloo” choreography would be well-received when we first started practicing it. The song, with its trap hip-hop base and refined yet playful choreography, felt like it would stand out in a new way.

KISS OF LIFE who had previously shown a ‘summer’ vibe presented a new side with ‘Igloo’. What other new things can we expect?

Belle: We will continue to evolve and reveal even more new sides of ourselves. While the future is uncertain, we will definitely bring fresh music and performances that will entertain both the eyes and ears of our fans!

Each member is involved in songwriting and composing. How do you want to express yourself through KISS OF LIFE’s music?

Belle: I believe only those who fully understand the music they make can produce a certain vibe. We always want to show our fans authentic and sincere music.

Haneul: Music feels like a diary to me, capturing my emotions and experiences. When I’m sad, I listen to music and cry. When I travel, I listen to music and feel even more excited — music becomes a way of saving those personal experiences.

Natty: I feel particularly confident in R&B, and I’d love to explore a variety of styles when I have more time!

You always present a “magazine” concept for your albums and even do magazine shoots. How are the two different?

Belle: In our album photo shoots, we focus on bringing out KISS OF LIFE’s identity, but in actual magazine shoots, the focus is more on showing a new side of me. Both are enjoyable!

Julie: I think magazine concept photo shoots feel less pressured than our album ones. Since the photos are for our KISS OF LIFE albums, we feel more encouraged to push our boundaries!

Natti: They’re quite similar! I really enjoy photo shoots, so I have a great time during both album and magazine shoots!

Finally, what can we expect from KISS OF LIFE in 2025?

Belle: It will be a leap forward. I believe we will achieve even more growth and take a big step forward!

Haneul: Beyond our planned European tour, we’ll have more opportunities to meet overseas KISSY, and Korean KISSY will also get to see a lot of new sides of us.

Julie: We’re going to achieve amazing things! We’re planning to fill 2025 with even better music and incredible stages!

Natty: We’re going to make it big!

23 Dec 2024

Demi Lovato Reacts to Minnesota Vikings Hitting ‘Camp Rock 2’ Dance During Seattle Seahawks Victory

The Minnesota Vikings have stolen the show with their intricately choreographed dances throughout the NFL season, and they added to the list with possibly their best performance yet on Sunday.

After sealing a victory with an interception against the Seattle Seahawks, Vikings defenders celebrated by hitting a dance from 2010’s Camp Rock 2: The Final Jam.

The celebration quickly went viral on social media following the 27-24 win, and the dance even made it onto Demi Lovato’s radar as the Camp Rock star reposted the clip to her Instagram Story on Monday (Dec. 23).

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“CAMP ROCK,” the Disney alum wrote to her IG Story in approval with a pair of clapping emojis and a laughing emoji.

Fellow Camp Rock star Nick Jonas chimed in and was blown away by the Vikings’ routine, which he championed to be “incredible” on X.

Elaborate dance celebrations have been a thing for the Vikings this year. Led by safety Camryn Bynum, he wanted to show some love to the ’90s babies with the ode to Demi and Camp Rock.

He even posted some behind-the-scenes footage of working with some of his teammates on nailing the routine the night before Sunday’s contest.

“CAMP ROCK!!!!” Behind the scenes 90’s babies this is for y’all,” he wrote to X.

The Minnesota Vikings defense has already impressed with several celebrations this season paying homage to White Chicks and The Parent Trap as well as viral Australian breakdancer Raygun.

We’ll see what Bynum and the Vikings have in store for the rest of the season as the team prepares for what could be a deep playoff run in 2025.

Watch the Vikings’ rendition of the Camp Rock dance above and the original chanting scene from the Disney classic below.

23 Dec 2024

Here’s How 50 Cent Reacted to Lil Baby Losing $8 Million in One Day of Gambling

50 Cent has just about seen it all in the rap game, and he’s never one to mince words when it comes to giving his thoughts on just about everything going on.

Last week, Lil Baby shocked fans when he admitted on Lil Yachty’s A Safe Place podcast that he lost about $8 million in just over a day of gambling, which caused him to go cold turkey and quit playing the odds completely.

“Nah these young [ninja emoji] crazy 8 million Gambling. I thought only Floyd [Mayweather] do s–t like that,” 50 captioned a clip of the interview in an Instagram post on Sunday (Dec. 22) while taking a jab at the boxing legend known for making big bets. “LOL come out the joint looking distraught. I’m just glad he didn’t kill no body.”

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50 added in his own comments section: “Come on he said 1 day, because he lost it in 1 shot.”

After the disastrous casino run, that was the final straw for Lil Baby, who told his friend and Fanatics CEO Michael Rubin to call the casinos he used to frequent and ban him from ever being able to play again.

“Like one day, probably like 40 hours straight, I lost like $8 million, $9 million. I made myself stop gambling,” Baby said on the podcast. “I had Mike Rubin write a letter to every casino and ban me from the casino. I just do s–t. I don’t gamble no more.”

With the vice of gambling out of the picture, Lil Baby is locked in on having a major comeback on the music front in 2025.

He’s readying his WHAM (Who Hard As Me) album for Jan. 3, which will be the first of two projects in the coming months. WHAM features assists from Young Thug, Future, GloRilla, Rod Wave, Travis Scott, 21 Savage and more.

See 50’s reaction to Lil Baby’s massive loss below:

23 Dec 2024

Ariana Grande Releases Live Performance of ‘Santa Tell Me’ for Song’s 10th Anniversary: Watch

Ariana Grande fans are feeling Christmas all around! The singer-actress surprised her Arianators with a live performance of her holiday hit “Santa Tell Me” on Monday (Dec. 23) to mark the song’s 10th anniversary.

“celebrating ten years of Santa Tell Me ! thank you so much for all of the love you have shown this record over the past decade,” the star — who currently stars as Glinda in the hit film Wicked — captioned a clip of the live video performance on Instagram. “wishing you all a happy, happy holiday !”

In the visual, the two-time Grammy winner — who came in at No. 9 on Billboard‘s list of Greatest Pop Stars of the 21st Century — starts off looking ethereal in a flowy white knee-length dress — in the center of a studio, surrounded by musicians. As the string instruments begin to play, the star looks around before launching into the lyrics, showing off her vocals. Later, when the bridge kicks in, her voice becomes breathy and dreamy until she soars again as Grande belts out, “This year I’ve got to be smart! Oooh baaaaby!”

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The pop star’s celebration of the holiday smash comes the same day that “Santa Tell Me” reached the Billboard Hot 100‘s top 10 for the first time since it’s November 2014 release. The track landed at No. 9 on the chart dated Dec. 28; it previously peaked at No. 11 during the 2023 holiday season.

In addition to gifting fans a live version of the song just two days before Christmas, the pop star also made it a merry holiday season for some of her fans in England. The Manchester Foundation Trust Charity revealed on Monday that Grande had donated gifts to children across its hospital system, something she done in 2022 as well. “We are so grateful to Ariana for thinking of our young patients this Christmas,” the U.K. organization shared on social media. “The gifts she has donated are being distributed to babies, children and teenagers.”

Watch Grande’s live performance of “Santa Tell Me” below:

23 Dec 2024

Here’s What Timothee Chalamet Has to Say About Billboard’s Top Female Rappers of 2024 List: ‘As a Barb…’

While discussing their new film A Complete Unknown with Billboard, Timothée Chalamet and Elle Fanning bounced around from Bob Dylan’s lyrics to Nicki Minaj’s legacy, Doechii’s rising stardom and a shared love for Mariah Carey’s music.

At the heart of the Dylan biopic A Complete Unknown, directed by James Mangold, is the singer/songwriter’s early rise in Greenwich Village between 1961 and 1965 — a time when his words became rallying cries for a restless generation. For Chalamet, stepping into Dylan’s well-worn boots wasn’t a task he took lightly. He learned more than 40 Bob Dylan songs, not just to perform them, but to fully absorb their meaning. “It was one of the most incredible experiences of my life, as an actor, just as a human. The metaphor I use… I am a huge Kid Cudi fan from my teenage years, right? And that’s the music that shaped me going into my adulthood. Into my adulthood, Bob Dylan shaped my worldview and his music — except at the end of that path, I’m embodying him.”

It was an unexpected comparison, but one that makes perfect sense. For a lot of people who grew up in the era of streaming playlists and viral music moments, Cudi’s lyrics became a sort of survival toolkit for navigating emotional turbulence. Dylan, in his own era, wasn’t so different: He wrote songs that made people feel seen, whether they were marching in protests or simply trying to make sense of their lives. 

While Dylan’s music served as the foundation for his performance, the conversation seamlessly opened up to Billboard’s Top Female Rappers of 2024 list. Nicki Minaj secured the No. 3 spot, and Chalamet’s face immediately lit up. “I feel like as a LaGuardia grad, as a Barb — even if I get roasted saying that… maybe have to slot Nicki [hand gestures upward] — but I’m not gonna disagree with that. I don’t need to wade into those waters.”

The LaGuardia reference, of course, ties back to his roots in the performing arts school known for producing fiercely passionate performers. And let’s be honest: The image of a young Timmy rapping Nicki Minaj lyrics is almost too good to handle.

But it wasn’t just Chalamet bringing the music references; Fanning held her own in the musical conversation too. Her connection to Dylan predates the film, and she shared how she was introduced to his music while working on a movie with Cameron Crowe at just 13 years old. “I do not know all the facts of Bob [Dylan], but I was just a lover of his music. I was 13, Cameron Crowe introduced me to his music, I did a film with him [We Bought a Zoo], and he would play his songs all the time.”

There’s something inherently cinematic about that moment: a teenage Fanning being guided into Dylan’s world by a director synonymous with rock ‘n’ roll storytelling. 

Fanning’s music taste isn’t limited to classic folk anthems; it thrives in the current moment too. As soon as we mentioned Billboard’s Top Female Rappers of 2024 list, her excitement was instant. She didn’t even wait to hear the full lineup before confidently declaring Doechii as her top pick (she landed at No. 6 on our list). “I got to see her perform… I got to meet her actually. She is beautiful, like I am obsessed with her.”

The conversation then took one final detour: astrology. As a fellow Aries to Fanning, Billboard‘s Cat Johnson couldn’t resist bringing up some of the most iconic Aries musicians: Lady Gaga, Celine Dion, Aretha Franklin and Elton John. When asked to pick her favorite Aries legend, Fanning didn’t hesitate: “Mariah is Mariah, like I love Mariah Carey.”

Beyond the fandom moments and Barb confessions, what stood out most about this conversation was how deeply both Chalamet and Fanning respect the music that shaped their roles. For Chalamet, learning Dylan’s songs wasn’t just preparation; it was an education. For Fanning, music became both anchor and an entry point into the world her character occupies.

This isn’t just another music biopic. A Complete Unknown feels like a love letter — to artistry, to rebellion, to the intangible power of music to move us, change us, and remind us who we are. Whether you’re a Dylan purist, a Barb, or someone who’s just stumbled upon Doechii’s music on your For You page, this film feels like it could speak directly to you.

Watch Billboard‘s interview with Chalamet and Fanning above.

23 Dec 2024

Mariah Carey’s ‘All I Want for Christmas Is You’ Breaks Streaming Songs Chart Record

Mariah Carey’s “All I Want for Christmas Is You” sets a new mark for the most time spent at No. 1 on Billboard’s Streaming Songs chart since its 2013 inception, spending a record 21st week atop the Dec. 28-dated tally.

“All I Want for Christmas Is You” reigns with 48 million official U.S. streams earned in the week ending Dec. 19, a boost of 13%, according to Luminate.

Leading for a 21st week tops the previous Streaming Songs longevity record that was held by Lil Nas X’s “Old Town Road,” featuring Billy Ray Cyrus. The song ruled for 20 frames beginning in April 2019.

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Most Weeks at No. 1, Streaming Songs

  • 21, “All I Want for Christmas Is You,” Mariah Carey (2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2024)
  • 20 weeks, “Old Town Road,” Lil Nas X feat. Billy Ray Cyrus (2019)
  • 19, “Last Night,” Morgan Wallen (2023)
  • 16, “Despacito,” Luis Fonsi & Daddy Yankee feat. Justin Bieber (2017)
  • 16, “Panda,” Desiigner (2016)
  • 14, “Rockstar,” Post Malone feat. 21 Savage (2017)
  • 13, “Wrecking Ball,” Miley Cyrus (2013-14)
  • 13, “Fancy,” Iggy Azalea feat. Charli XCX (2014)
  • 13, “The Box,” Roddy Ricch (2020)
  • 13, “We Don’t Talk About Bruno,” Carolina Gaitan, Mauro Castillo, Adassa, Rhenzy Feliz, Diane Guerrero, Stephanie Beatriz & Encanto Cast (2022)

Concurrently, as previously reported, “All I Want for Christmas Is You” spends a 17th week at No. 1 on the multimetric Billboard Hot 100 chart, a count that gives it sole possession of the third-most weeks at No. 1 in the ranking’s history.

23 Dec 2024

ROSÉ & Bruno Mars’ ‘APT.’ Notches Ninth Week at No. 1 on Billboard Global Charts

ROSÉ and Bruno Mars’ “APT.” tops the Billboard Global 200 and Billboard Global Excl. U.S. charts for a ninth week apiece. The song debuted as the stars’ second leader on each list.

Plus, six seasonal songs light up each chart’s top 10.

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The Global 200 and Global Excl. U.S. charts, which began in September 2020, rank songs based on streaming and sales activity culled from more than 200 territories around the world, as compiled by Luminate. The Global 200 is inclusive of worldwide data and the Global Excl. U.S. chart comprises data from territories excluding the United States.

Chart ranks are based on a weighted formula incorporating official-only streams on both subscription and ad-supported tiers of audio and video music services, as well as download sales, the latter of which reflect purchases from full-service digital music retailers from around the world, with sales from direct-to-consumer (D2C) sites excluded from the charts’ calculations.

“APT.” rules the Global 200 with 142 million streams and 18,000 sold (down 4% week-over-week in each metric) worldwide Dec. 13-19. The hit now claims nine of the top 10 global streaming weeks among songs released in 2024:

  • 224.5 million, “APT.,” ROSÉ & Bruno Mars, Nov. 2
  • 207.5 million, “APT.,” Nov. 9
  • 176.8 million, “Fortnight,” Taylor Swift feat. Post Malone, May 4
  • 162.2 million, “APT.,” Nov. 16
  • 160.6 million, “APT.,” Dec. 7
  • 149.9 million, “APT.,” Dec. 14
  • 147.7 million, “APT.,” Dec. 21
  • 146.4 million, “APT.,” Nov. 23
  • 142 million, “APT.,” Dec. 28
  • 132.7 million, “APT.,” Nov. 30

Mariah Carey’s “All I Want for Christmas Is You” keeps at No. 2 on the Global 200. Released in 1994, the song has spent a record 18 weeks at No. 1 dating to the chart’s start (five each over the 2023 and 2022 holidays and four in both the 2021 and 2020 holiday seasons).

Five other carols rank in the Global 200’s top 10: Wham’s “Last Christmas” (No. 3), Brenda Lee’s “Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree” (No. 5), Bobby Helms’ “Jingle Bell Rock” (No. 6) all hold in place, followed by Ariana Grande’s “Santa Tell Me” (10-9) and Kelly Clarkson’s “Underneath the Tree” (11-10). The songs have hit respective Nos. 2, 2, 4, 5 and 6 highs.

Plus, Lady Gaga and Mars’ “Die With a Smile” is steady at No. 4 on the Global 200, following eight weeks at No. 1, the most for any song this year, beginning in September. It drew 125.6 million streams (up 4%) worldwide in the latest tracking frame and has tallied over 100 million streams globally in each of the last 16 weeks, the longest such streak since the chart began.

“APT.” concurrently tops Global Excl. U.S. with 124.9 million streams (down 4%) and 12,000 sold (up 1%) outside the U.S. Dec. 13-19.

“Die With a Smile” repeats at No. 2 on Global Excl. U.S.. following eight weeks at No. 1 starting in September; Carey’s “All I Want for Christmas Is You” is steady at No. 3, having spent a record-tying 13 weeks at No. 1; Wham’s “Last Christmas” holds at No. 4, after reaching No. 2; and Billie Eilish’s “Birds of a Feather” is stationary at No. 5, following three weeks at No. 1 in August.

Meanwhile, four more holiday hits decorate the Global Excl. U.S. top 10: Lee’s “Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree” (8-7), Helms’ “Jingle Bell Rock” (9-8) Sia’s “Snowman” (10-9) and Grande’s “Santa Tell Me” (11-10). The songs have reached highs of Nos. 3, 5, 4 and 5, respectively.

The Billboard Global 200 and Billboard Global Excl. U.S. charts (dated Dec. 28, 2024) will update on Billboard.com Tuesday, Dec. 24. For both charts, the top 100 titles are available to all readers on Billboard.com, while the complete 200-title rankings are visible on Billboard Pro, Billboard’s subscription-based service. For all chart news, you can follow @billboard and @billboardcharts on both X, formerly known as Twitter, and Instagram.

Luminate, the independent data provider to the Billboard charts, completes a thorough review of all data submissions used in compiling the weekly chart rankings. Luminate reviews and authenticates data. In partnership with Billboard, data deemed suspicious or unverifiable is removed, using established criteria, before final chart calculations are made and published.

23 Dec 2024

21 Savage Hosts 6th Annual Holiday Toy Drive in Atlanta & Helps 1,000 Families

21 Savage is in the spirit of giving back to the community this holiday season. Alongside his Leading by Example Foundation, Savage hosted his sixth annual holiday toy drive on Saturday afternoon (Dec. 21) in DeKalb County, Ga.

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The Atlanta native helped 1,000 families in need this holiday season by giving out warm meals and 3,000 toys to children at the Porter Sanford III Performing Arts & Community Center in DeKalb County. Parents left the community center with boxes of gifts and new bikes to spread some holiday cheer.

“I’m a grandma of eight and I was trying to figure out how I was going to buy all my grandkids a gift,” a recipient named Angela Howard told WSB-TV2.

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Congressman Hank Johnson and Commissioner Mereda Davis Johnson honored 21 with four proclamations and two community action awards for his humanitarian efforts over the years. Going forward, Dec. 21 will fittingly be known as 21 Savage Day in DeKalb County.

Giving back isn’t something new for 21, who hosts his annual Issa Back to School Drive in August to equip students with all the supplies they need before kicking off the school year.

21 Savage Toy Drive

21 Savage Toy Drive

Prince Williams/Getty Images

21 Savage set the tone for 2024 with the release of his American Dream album in January. He recruited a plethora of guests to join him, including Doja Cat, Young Thug, Travis Scott, Mariah the Scientist and more throughout the 15 tracks.

American Dream debuted atop the Billboard 200 with 133,000 total album-equivalent units earned in its first week on the chart.

23 Dec 2024

André 3000 Explains Why He Wanted to Be Taken Off Ye’s ‘Life of the Party’ Collaboration

André 3000 and Ye (formerly known as Kanye West) joined forces for the cathartic “Life of the Party” in 2021, which landed on the deluxe version of West’s Donda album. It was an untraditional road to eventually landing on streaming services, as Drake actually leaked the track on his Sound 42 SiriusXM radio show first. And now, André is explaining why he wanted off the collab.

Three Stacks joined The New York Times’ Popcast on Saturday (Dec. 21), where he — in addition to performing in the NYT newsroom — sat down for a nearly 90-minute interview. Part of the discussion included him detailing and debunking everything surrounding his “Life of the Party” team-up with Ye in 2021.

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With André and Ye both losing their moms and the album being named after Ms. Donda West, Three Stacks credited West with inspiring him to speak on the tragic loss. “I was speaking as if I’m speaking to his mom to tell a message to my mom,” he said. “That song opened me up to say things that I couldn’t have said without Kanye.”

However, Yeezy didn’t want any cursing on the project, so the Outkast legend offered to have his verse taken off the song altogether, since he didn’t approve of there being strictly clean versions of such a poignant record.

“Ye was at a point where he didn’t want any curse words on the album and I said, ‘Yeah I’m cool with it.’ I’m totally fine with no curse words,” André 3000 said. “But take me off the song because I’d written it a certain way. I was cool with beeped versions, but you have to put the dirty version of it out too.”

Dre continued: “He told me, ‘I told my daughter that I would not have any curse words on the album,’ I said, ‘Yeah, man, the kids for sure. So just take me off.’”

He also clarified that he knew West was going to be taking shots at Drake on the track amid their feud, but attempted to reason with Ye about whether this song was the proper playground for that. “I heard the diss part,” he shared. “Me and Kanye had a convo about it. I had my feelings about it. I was like, ‘Man, do you really want to do this on this type of song? It’s like going and shooting up your mom’s funeral.’”

An explicit version ended up landing on streaming services in November 2021. “Life of the Party” reached No. 3 on the Hot Gospel Songs chart and No. 47 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart.

Watch the full interview below.