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Earlier this morning (Nov. 8), the Grammys unveiled the nominations for their 2025 awards ceremony. With Beyoncé exuding her prowess once again as music’s immovable force with 11 nominations, Kendrick Lamar came in just behind her, sharing the runner-up spot with Post Malone, Billie Eilish and Charli XCX with their seven nominations each.
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“Not Like Us” was Lamar’s searing dagger against Drake in their hotly contested battle this past spring and became a cultural phenomenon when it topped the Billboard Hot 100 in June. The committee rewarded the track for its ubiquity, as it’ll compete in the song and record of the year categories after reigning supreme on the rap charts for a historic 21 weeks, ousting Lil Nas X’s 2019 champion “Old Town Road” from the all-time leaderboard. Lamar’s successful coup against Drake first began when he partnered on Metro Boomin and Future’s “Like That” last April. Similarly to “Not Like Us,” Lamar’s strategic jabs at the 6 God on “Like That” marked a significant moment, kickstarting the heavyweight feud and now also securing nominations for best rap song and best rap performance.
With Kendrick having a strong hold on the rap side of things, his former TDE compatriot, Doechii, is arguably the shining star in this year’s nominations, earning three nominations, most notably for best new artist. Alligator Bites Never Heal garnered critical acclaim and established Doechii as a formidable contender in the rap scene. The most impressive feat of Doechii’s inclusion at next year’s ceremonies is that Alligator Bites Never Heal has made her the first female rapper to land in the best rap album category since Cardi B’s Invasion of Privacy in 2020.
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In addition to Doechii’s triumph, female rappers Latto, GloRilla, Rapsody and Cardi B all earned nominations this year. The speaker-rattling “Yeah Glo!” anchored GloRilla’s explosive 2024 and earned the Memphis superstar two Grammy nominations for best rap song and best rap performance, matching Rapsody’s total. Rapsody, a previous Grammy nominee with 2017’s Laila’s Wisdom and 2019’s Eve, caught the attention of the committee this year with her lyrical masterwork Please Don’t Cry. As proven in the past, Rap’s affinity for storytelling and chilling candor makes her a consistent presence when Grammy season rolls around.
Some notable omissions of female rappers did still stand out, particularly the absence of Sexxy Red. The St. Louis darling enjoyed a torrid run with her streak of hit singles, including “Get It Sexxy” and the Drake-featuring “U My Everything.” A best new artist look would have benefited Sexxy, who has been at the forefront of rap for the last two years.
Megan Thee Stallion and Nicki Minaj, the leaders of the female rap scene, both released new chart-topping albums — with the latter debuting at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 with 228,000 album equivalent units in its opening week in 2023 — but neither are anywhere to be found in this year’s nominations. For Megan, her June self-titled album is arguably the pinnacle of her career, showcasing her at her most comfortable as an MC. Though she finally found her footing there, unlike within her Grammy-nominated run in 2020, Megan didn’t have a grand-slam single like “Savage” to give her an extra push in the race.
Tommy Richman, one of music’s brightest rookies this year with his hit “Million Dollar Baby,”also received zero nominations, despite the song’s resounding success — which included a No. 2 peak on the Hot 100. Richman dealt with controversy online several months ago, when he scoffed at the notion of him making a rap song with “Baby.” Reports emerged shortly after Richman’s tweets that his team placed “Baby” for consideration in the best melodic rap performance category, leaving fans bemused by the decision after his initial comments.
Lastly, it’s important to highlight Eminem and Common’s nominations, as they debunked the theory that rap is a young man’s sport. The two lyrical wordsmiths will each be competing in the best rap album and best rap performance categories. Eminem made his grand return this year with his 12th studio album, The Death of Slim Shady (Coup de Grâce), while Common reconnected with revered producer Pete Rock for their joint album The Auditorium, Vol. 1.
The Funeral Portrait ranks at No. 1 on a Billboard chart for the first time, as “Suffocate City,” featuring Ice Nine Kills’ Spencer Charnas, tops the Mainstream Rock Airplay tally dated Nov. 16.
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Rising a spot to No. 1, “Suffocate City” is the Atlanta-based band’s first entry on any Billboard chart. The act is the third to notch a first ruler on the ranking as a lead act in 2024, following Wage War with “Magnetic” in August and Daughtry with “Artificial” in February.
As for acts ruling with maiden-charting songs in a lead role on Mainstream Rock Airplay, The Funeral Portrait is the first since Jelly Roll led with “Dead Man Walking” in May 2022. As Jelly Roll had made songs-based Billboard charts before then, The Funeral Portrait is the first act to lead with a first charted track on any ranking since Nita Strauss, whose “Dead Inside,” alongside David Draiman, topped Mainstream Rock Airplay in January 2022.
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As for Charnas, the frontman of Ice Nine Kills, “Suffocate City” is his first leader on any chart, too. As a soloist, he reached No. 16 on Mainstream Rock Airplay in February 2023 as featured on Fame on Fire’s “Welcome to the Chaos.” Ice Nine Kills’ Mainstream Rock Airplay best is “A Grave Mistake,” which hit No. 9 in 2019.
Concurrently, “Suffocate City” bullets at No. 12 on the all-rock-format, audience-based Rock & Alternative Airplay chart, after reaching No. 11 a week earlier. It earned 2.5 million audience impressions in the week ending Nov. 7, up 6%, according to Luminate.
On the most recently published multimetric Hot Hard Rock Songs chart (dated Nov. 9, reflecting data in the week ending Oct. 31), “Suffocate City” hit a new No. 17 high. In addition to its radio airplay, it drew 156,000 official U.S. streams.
“Suffocate City” is the lead single from Greetings From Suffocate City, which was released on Sept. 13 and has earned 12,000 equivalent album units to date.
All Billboard charts dated Nov. 16 will update on Billboard.com Tuesday, Nov. 12.
Nicki Minaj season is right around the corner. The rapper announced on Friday (Nov. 8) that she will be celebrating the one-year anniversary of Pink Friday 2 with Pink Friday 2 – The Hiatus, which will arrive on Dec. 13.
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Nicki had previously been teasing Pink Friday 3, but it appears she’s set to go in a different direction with The Hiatus, which will serve as final deluxe installment and closing chapter of the PF2 era.
“Pink Friday 2 – The Hiatus The final deluxe installment On the 1 year Anniversary of PF2 12.13.24,” she wrote to X.
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Fans had mixed reactions to the news. While the Barbz were ecstatic to know they’d be receiving new music, they were also worried about a “hiatus” meaning Minaj potentially stepping away from music for a considerable amount of time in 2025.
“IS THIS A DELUXE OR A HIATUS IM CONFUSED-,” one fan tweeted, while another added, “Wait I skipped the hiatus word…. Idk how to feel now.”
Minaj was originally slated to drop Pink Friday 2: Gag City Reloaded in September to coincide with the second U.S. leg of her record-breaking Pink Friday 2 World Tour, but pivoted to Pink Friday 3.
“Instead of doing a DELUXE to Pink Friday 2, I’ve decided to do a brand new album. I’ll still incorporate new songs like #Mamita & [The ‘anxiety’ song] for the remainder of the tour tho…and I’ll announce the new date within the next couple weeks,” she tweeted at the time. “The new music is just too good to be thrown away on a deluxe album. Last night, the songs I recorded were just way too iconic. I love you guys so much. You know that. I know you do. I’ll still give you something leading up to the announcement, so no worries.”
It’s unclear if there are still plans for Pink Friday 3 as her next era, or if it’s been replaced with The Hiatus deluxe edition.
The 41-year-old rapper wrapped up North America’s second leg of her world tour in October, which already was the highest grossing and bestselling rap tour by a woman in Boxscore history following the first leg.
Pink Friday 2 arrived on Dec. 8, 2023, and debuted atop the Billboard 200 with 228,000 album-equivalent units, according to Luminate.
Edgar Barrera‘s prowess has been widely recognized not only by the Latin Recording Academy, with nine nominations for the 2024 Latin Grammys alone, but also by the Recording Academy. For the second year in a row, the Mexican-American hitmaker is competing for songwriter of the year, non-classical at the Grammys thanks to Spanish-language songs written with or for stars such as Ivan Cornejo, Carín León, Shakira, Karol G and Peso Pluma.
In the list of nominations for the 2025 Grammy Awards, announced Friday (Nov. 8), Barrera was once again included in a non-Latin genre category, along with English-language songwriters Jessi Alexander, Amy Allen, Jessie Jo Dillon and Raye. Songs cited this year under his name are “Atención” (Ivan Cornejo), “(Entre Paréntesis)” (Shakira and Grupo Frontera), “It Was Always You (Siempre Fuiste Tú)” (Carín León and Leon Bridges), “No Se Vale” (Camilo), “The One (Pero No Como Yo)” (Carín León and Kane Brown), “Por El Contrario” (Becky G with Ángela Aguilar and Leonardo Aguilar), “Si Antes Te Hubiera Conocido”(Karol G), “Sincere” (Khalid) and “Tommy & Pamela” (Peso Pluma and Kenia Os).
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The nominations in general include other Latin artists, but not in such prominent categories as songwriter of the year. Among others, Venezuelan conductor Gustavo Dudamel is nominated again in the classical music categories, along with Mexican composer Gabriela Ortiz, and Puerto Rican saxophonist and composer Miguel Zenón appears in the jazz categories.
In the Latin music-specific categories — which include pop, urban, rock or alternative, Mexican music and tropical music — there are superstars who have been nominated or awarded in the past, such as Anitta, Bad Bunny, Shakira, Kali Uchis, Peso Pluma, J Balvin, Residente, Juan Luis Guerra and Marc Anthony, among others. Plus, first-time nominees include Feid, Young Miko and Rawayana.
Karol G, who won last year’s Grammy for best música urbana album for Mañana Será Bonito and now has eight nominations at the 2024 Latin Grammys — including album of the year for Mañana Será Bonito (Bichota Season) — was surprisingly not among this year’s Grammy nominees.
Below are the nominees for the 67th Annual Grammy Awards in the Latin music and Latin jazz categories. Winners will be announced in Los Angeles on Sunday, Feb. 2.
Best Latin Pop Album
Funk Generation, Anitta
El Viaje, Luis Fonsi
García, Kany García
Las Mujeres Ya No Lloran, Shakira
Orquídeas, Kali Uchis
Best Música Urbana Album
Nadie Sabe Lo Que Va a Pasar Mañana, Bad Bunny
Rayo, J Balvin
Ferxxocalipsis, Feid
Las Letras Ya No Importan, Residente
Att., Young Miko
Best Latin Rock or Alternative Album
Compita del Destino, El David Aguilar
Pa’ Tu Cuerpa, Cimafunk
Autopoiética, Mon Laferte
Grasa, Nathy Peluso
¿Quién trae las cornetas?, Rawayana
Best Música Mexicana Album (Including Tejano)
Diamantes, Chiquis
Boca Chueca, Vol. 1, Carín León
Éxodo, Peso Pluma
De Lejitos, Jessi Uribe
Best Tropical Latin Album
Muevense, Marc Anthony
Bailar, Sheila E.
Radio Güira, Juan Luis Guerra 4.40
Alma, Corazón y Salsa (Live at Gran Teatro Nacional), Tony Succar, Mimy Succar
Vacilón Santiaguero, Kiki Valera
Best Latin Jazz Album
Spain Forever Again, Michel Camilo & Tomatito
Cubop Lives!, Zaccai Curtis
Collab, Hamilton de Holanda & Gonzalo Rubalcaba
Time and Again, Eliane Elias
El Trio: Live in Italy, Horacio “El Negro” Hernández, John Beasley & José Gola
Cuba and Beyond, Chucho Valdés & Royal Quartet
As I Travel, Donald Vega feat. Lewis Nash, John Patitucci & Luisito Quintero
Travis Scott‘s ‘FE!N,” featuring Playboi Carti, has surpassed 1 billion streams on Spotify, the streaming service announced on Thursday (Nov. 7). “Travis Scott and Playboi Carti’s FE!N is the newest member of the BILLIONS CLUB,” Spotify wrote on X and Instagram. “Thanks to all the fans.” Carti shared the infographic on his own Instagram Story. […]
The Recording Academy has unveiled its nominations list for the 2025 Grammys, and some pretty huge names weren’t on it — at least, not in all of the Big Four categories fans might have been expecting. Though stars such as Taylor Swift, Billie Eillish, Beyoncé, Charli XCX and more all received wide recognition on the […]
Latto’s Sugar Honey Iced Tea Tour rumbled through Toronto on Thursday night (Nov. 7), and Drake popped out to make a surprise guest appearance. The Atlanta rapper and Drizzy teamed up for “Housekeeping Knows,” which arrived earlier this year as part of the 6 God’s 100 Gigs drop. While the track isn’t typically part of […]
Not for nothing, but singer/producer Mk.gee literally taught us how to say his name on his 2018 EP, Pronounced McGee. But, here we are with this week’s Saturday Night Live promo featuring host comedian Bill Burr, in which cast member Sarah Sherman just can’t do the math on how to sound out the Two Star & Dream Police performer’s stage moniker.
“Hi, I’m Bill Burr and I’m hosting SNL this week with Mk.gee,” says Burr, who will anchor the first show following this week’s historic election in which former President Donald Trump beat out Vice President Kamala Harris. “Mk.gee, how do you spell your name?” a confused Sherman asks.
“M, as in Mk.gee,” responds the enigmatic indie singer-songwriter, who recently revealed that he’s working in the studio on Justin Bieber’s next album. “Yeah, ‘K’ as ‘Kiss From a Rose,’ by Seal,” adds Burr. “Dot as in ‘dot com,’ the host continues as the musical guest concludes, “G as in ‘gee.’”
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“Okay, never mind, forget I asked,” an exasperated Sherman tells the men.
In the second bit, Sherman is very impressed with herself, rolling her eyes and saying, “Thank you, I do look ravishing today!,” to which Burr says, “I didn’t say you looked ravishing” as Mk.gee stands silent in a giant brown coat and matching hued shirt and black baseball hat. “I’m talkin’ about Mk.gee,” Burr assures her.
“Your hotel room tonight?,” Sherman goes on, as she pretends to be having a private conversation with a suitor via a non-existent earpiece. “What?” a confused Burr wonders. “Sorry, I’m on a call. Let me know when the promo starts,” Sherman tells him. “Sorry about that… where were we, Mickey Rourke?” Sherman coos while holding a finger to her ear to continue the phantom chat. The latter finally gets the attention of Rourke superfan Burr, though it’s too late at that point.
This weekend’s gig will mark 27-year-old New Jersey native Mk.gee’s SNL debut. Mk.gee is currently on a world tour that take him to Australia in December.
Watch this week’s SNL promo below.
Billboard’s Friday Music Guide serves as a handy guide to this Friday’s most essential releases — the key music that everyone will be talking about today, and that will be dominating playlists this weekend and beyond.
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This week, Karol G leads a Colombia all-star team, Zach Bryan stays prolific and XG take a step forward. Check out all of this week’s picks below:
Karol G feat. Feid, DFZM, Ovy on the Drums, J Balvin, Maluma, Blessd & Ryan Castro, “+57”
The first words uttered on “+57” are “Colombia gang,” and they are apt: this all-star collaboration, headlined by Karol G but making room for notable names across the Latin music community, honors the music of Colombia through sheer strength in numbers, as well as a hypnotic beat that never wears out its welcome across nearly 5 minutes.
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Zach Bryan, “High Road” & “This World’s a Giant”
Following the July release of The Great American Bar Scene, Zach Bryan is back this week with a pair of singles, “High Road” and “This World’s a Giant,” both of which present somber reflections of a man wrestling with demons and not ready to step outside amidst mournful strums and stately country production.
XG, AWE
If the breathless single “Something Ain’t Right” hinted at the promise of XG’s next era earlier this year, then its host project, AWE, fully realizes the Japanese group’s potential: AWE only run 23 minutes but features a slew of giddy pop moments and a sharp mix of the members’ respective personalities.
Ferg, Darold
Titled after his birth name, Ferg offers an intimate portrait of the A$AP Mob mainstay and the family members who helped shape his worldview, while also bringing in top-notch guests like Future, Coco Jones, Denzel Curry and Mary J. Blige, with the lattermost featured on back-half highlights “Casting Spells” and “Chosen.”
Charlie Puth, “December 25th”
As Charlie Puth is gearing up for a new album release next year, he’s unveiled a stocking stuffer to tide over fans before the calendar flips, with “December 25th” translating his wide vocal range, melodic gifts and penchant for classic pop nostalgia into a jingly, slightly melancholic holiday single.
Editor’s Pick: Griff, “Last Night’s Mascara”
“Would you look at me now?” Griff asks multiple times within the chorus of new single “Last Night’s Mascara,” the remnants of the pop singer’s tears still evident the next morning as she literally prays for resolution; like all of Griff’s best tracks, the emotional resonance of her voice guides the thematic construction and provides weight to every hook.
Wedding planning is hard for everyone, even Snoop Dogg‘s daughter, Cori Broadus — especially considering the health challenges she’s faced this year. In a new trailer posted Thursday (Nov. 7) for the family’s upcoming three-part E! docuseries Snoop Dogg’s Fatherhood: Cori and Wayne’s Story, the 25-year-old bride-to-be details the difficulties of putting together her nuptials […]
