State Champ Radio music video
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The music video for “Smack That,” Akon‘s hit 2006 single with Eminem, danced its way into the Billion Views Club on YouTube, the video platform shared on Wednesday (Feb. 8).
The visual features a cameo from Academy Award nominee Eric Roberts and revolves around Akon getting a 24-hour hall pass from prison in order to help the police run an undercover sting operation in a gentleman’s club frequented by Eminem.
Of course, the whole plot is set to Akon’s irresistible earworm of a track, which finds the Senegalese-American star crooning, “I feel you creepin’, I can see it from my shadow/ Wanna jump up in my Lamborghini Gallardo/ Maybe go to my place and just kick it like TaeBo/ And possibly bend you over, look back and watch me/ Smack that, all on the floor/ Smack that, give me some more/ Smack that, till you get sore/ Smack that, oh!”
As the lead single off Akon’s sophomore album Konvicted, “Smack That” reached as high as No. 2 on the Billboard Hot 100, a career high at the time for the singer that was soon surpassed by his dual No. 1 hits “I Wanna Love You” featuring Snoop Dogg and “Don’t Matter.” Its video is the star’s second to achieve the major viewership feat on YouTube after his 2013 collab with David Guetta and Ne-Yo, “Play Hard.”
More recently, Akon mounted a comeback with his TikTok-fueled 2022 EP TT Freak. He also spoke out in December in defense of Nick Cannon having 12 kids with six different women.
Revisit the music video for Akon and Eminem’s “Smack That” below.
Growing up in south Florida, the closest Christian Breslauer got to Hollywood was a nearby beach named after it. The cinephile looked up to renowned film director David Fincher, who also helmed music videos for Madonna and Billy Idol early in his career. After high school, he started directing clips for local artists. He moved to California in 2016 with sights set on working with London Alley Entertainment, a full-service production company behind award-winning videos for artists including Kendrick Lamar (“Alright”) and Logic (“1-800-273-8255”). Breslauer jokingly recalls that he reached out to founder/executive producer Luga Podesta dozens of times before first working with the company on a 2019 Cîroc commercial. However, London Alley didn’t start representing him until the following year, after Podesta saw the video for Roddy Ricch’s “The Box,” which earned an MTV Video Music Award nomination for best hip-hop video. “Our job as a company is seeing a director’s career long term instead of just per project,” says Podesta. “We strategize about who are the artists they want to work with and who manages those artists.”
Since then, Breslauer has become a go-to creator of visuals that are equally eye-popping and purposeful, working with superstars including The Weeknd, Doja Cat, John Legend and Lil Nas X (The latter’s “Industry Baby” clip with Jack Harlow won three VMAs). At the beginning of 2023, Breslauer directed the video for SZA’s “Kill Bill,” which has over 20 million views — and most recently, he helmed the ultimate Black girl superhero visual for Lizzo’s Special title track. “We helped [Christian] form the relationships with Lizzo and SZA,” says Podesta, also noting that the team “did four or five videos with SALXCO management and then finally got [him] to work with The Weeknd.” Adds Breslauer: “We try to build little Marvel universes for every artist I work with. That’s why artists like to come back and keep working with me.”
Tyga x Doja Cat, “Freaky Deaky”
Christian Breslauer and Doja Cat on the set of the “Freaky Deaky” music video.
Virisa Yong
After Tyga texted Breslauer about shooting a “futuristic” video for “Freaky Deaky,” a Doja Cat collaboration from his forthcoming album, Breslauer imagined a sexy cat-and-mouse game, with Doja capturing Tyga in various traps during a late-night rendezvous. The lyrics helped inspire some of them, including “Black Barbie, perfect and you gnarly,” which reminded Breslauer of a scene from Joe Dante’s 1998 film Small Soldiers when action figures punch out of their plastic boxes. “I put a lot of intention in breaking down the song,” says Breslauer. He often leans on artists to bring their own flair during shoots, noting that Doja Cat’s chastity belt lock featuring a phallic keyhole was an addition by her stylist Brett Alan Nelson.
Lizzo, “About Damn Time”
Lizzo and Christian Breslauer on the set of the “About Damn Time” music video.
Micayla Catanzariti
Last year, Lizzo’s team asked Breslauer to direct three videos for her Grammy-nominated album Special. But once the newly minted record of the year “About Damn Time” went viral and subsequently reached No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100, that visual took priority. The two set out to make something uplifting, with Breslauer running with Lizzo’s idea to open in a support group setting. The visual won video for good at the 2022 VMAs, with Lizzo dubbing Breslauer “Tittylauer” during her acceptance speech. “We have so many funny moments. She brings such a bubbly energy where you just can’t help but love her,” he said, calling the recent “Special” video his favorite one from her album.
SZA, “Kill Bill”
SZA and Christian Breslauer on the set of the “Kill Bill” music video.
Micayla Catanzariti
For SZA’s latest video, Breslauer wanted to incorporate the singer’s idea of shibari rope bondage during the outro — a second sequence soundtracked by fellow SOS track “Seek & Destroy” — while still largely referencing Quentin Tarantino’s Kill Bill films. “It seemed too on-the-nose to have an Uma [Thurman] cameo, but Vivica [A. Fox] was right to me,” says Breslauer of one of its driving scenes. “She’s got the look, she’s got the swagger.” He adds that they wrapped that shot around 5 a.m. as part of a 19-hour-long shoot that happened just days before Christmas. The video came out two weeks later — which Podesta says is “definitely the fastest video we’ve done in a while.”
A version of this story originally appeared in the Feb. 4, 2023, issue of Billboard.
Lizzo dropped the music video for her latest single “Special” on Wednesday (Feb. 1) and unveiled her superhero alter ego in the process.
In the clip, Lizzo portrays a beleaguered and put-upon waitress who just so happens to moonlight as a caped crusader keeping little girls and victims of bullying and robbery safe. “In case nobody told you today, you’re special/ In case nobody made you believe, you’re special/ Well, I will always love you the same/ You’re special/ I’m so glad that you’re still with us/ Broken but damn, you’re still perfect,” she preaches after saving an elementary schooler from being hit by a car while also tending to the shaken-up driver.
Later in the Christian Breslauer-directed visual, the singer is labeled a “women-ace” as crowds of angry protesters wave handmade signs declaring “Public Enemy” and “Hope Over ‘Heroes,’” but turns the public narrative on its head when she saves the day by rescuing a baby from a burning building.
As the title track off Lizzo’s fourth studio album Special, the uplifting anthem follows No. 1 hit “About Damn Time” and its follow-up “2 Be Loved (Am I Ready).”
The lead single is currently nominated for three awards — record of the year, song of the year and best pop solo performance — at the 2023 Grammys, while the album as a whole is in the running for both album of the year and best pop vocal album. (Earlier today the singer notched three nominations at the upcoming 2023 Kids Choice Awards as well.)
Watch Lizzo flex her humanity-saving superpowers in the “Special” music video below.
Last fall, NCT 127 teased the possibility of a deluxe repackaging of their 2 Baddies album by telling Billboard to “look forward to being surprised by something unexpected.” Four months after the LP earned the K-pop boy band their second top 3 entry on the Billboard 200, the group unveils their Ay-Yo – The 4th Album Repackage album with three new songs, including the sleek title track single.
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While NCT 127’s previous title track “2 Baddies” seized listeners’ attention with its unrelenting chant chorus, the group’s latest takes a much more subtle approach with looping beats, delicate piano accents, and a surging, synthesizer-led chorus. Like they teased last year, the guys themselves also bring out unexpected musical moments in “Ay-Yo,” like when the silky-voiced vocalist Jaehyun kicks off the second verse with a rap section.
The accompanying music video is a mash of surprise delights too. Members like Doyoung and Jaehyun serve their best James Bonds with slick black outfits among a backdrop reminiscent of inside a pistol barrel as made famous in the 007 movies.
Meanwhile, leader Taeyong pulls off what will be one of 2023’s most shocking hairstyles with punky, pointy spikes that fans have found reminiscent of NCT label mates and K-pop pioneers TVXQ! and Super Junior.
In between the release of 2 Baddies and Ay-Yo, NCT 127 released a music video for their b-side “1, 2, 7 (Time Stops)” and held concerts in North America, Asia and Latin America as part of their Neo City – The Link world tour. The guys only wrapped their last show on Jan. 28 at Mexico City’s Palacio de los Deportes arena before dropping this new LP that includes its title track, the previously teased “DJ” plus hip-hop/pop hybrid “Skyscraper.”
Watch Taeyong, Doyoung, Jaehyun, Taeil, Mark, Yuta, Johnny, Jungwoo and Haechan in “Ay-Yo” below.
P!nk dropped the dramatic video for “Trustfall” on Friday morning (Jan. 27), the pulsing title track to her upcoming ninth album. The clip opens with the solitary image of a person crouching on a cliff overlooking the ocean as the singer solemnly intones, “Are you gonna fall? Is someone supposed to catch you? Or do you catch yourself? There will be something worth falling for,” as the action shifts to a chill house party.
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The Georgia Hudson-directed visual then follows our young protagonist as she burns out into the night on a scooter in what appears to be an emotional state. The scene jumps to P!nk standing on the rooftop of the “Illusion Hotel,” where she sings, “Picture a place where it all doesn’t hurt/ Where everything’s safe and it doesn’t get worse/ Oh my, we see through bloodshot eyes.” As with most P!nk videos, there is some impressive dancing, with choreographer Ryan Heffington adding a layer of emotion to the tune’s message with midnight choreo in the middle of a darkened street that brings to life the mix of hope and fear in the lyrics.
The song, co-produced by Fred and Snow Patrol’s Johnny McDaid — who co-wrote it with the singer — features a driving EDM beat and emotionally fraught lyrics about pushing beyond your fears and putting faith in things you may not be able to see. “Close your eyes and leave it all behind/ Go where love is on our side, it’s a trustfall baby,” P!nk sings on the song’s chorus.
The journey ends with P!nk hugging the clip’s female co-star and offering the sage advice, “You’re s–t scared and your whole body is shaking… go in there and just f–ing do it. Just do it, whatever it is, and then boom, it’s gone. The fear is gone.”
P!nk’s upcoming studio album, also called “Trustfall,” is due out on Feb. 17 via RCA Records. So far the singer has released the undeniable bop “Never Gonna Not Dance Again” and announced the dates for her massive 21-city “Summer Carnival 2023” stadium tour featuring Brandi Carlile and new Rock and Roll Hall of Famers Pat Benatar & Neil Girlado on select dates and Grouplove and KidCutUp on all the shows.
Watch the “Trustfall” video below.
XG, the seven-member Japanese girl group that debuted last year, has unveiled the music video for its dynamic third single, “Shooting Star,” on Wednesday (Jan. 25). “Shooting Star” marks the group’s first single of 2023 and was premiered along with a bonus track, “Left Right,” with a live performance of both songs broadcast prior to their release.
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Both songs express an elevated determination for the group, which launched under the XGALX label last January. “‘Shooting Star’ is about our desire to become a world-class group, and ‘Left Right’ is about our commitment to move forward, the only direction we know,” XG’s Jurin tells Billboard in an exclusive statement. “I personally believe that believing in yourself and becoming the person you want to be are keywords that apply to everyone and are the purpose of life. I also think that we were able to express a new side of XG with these two songs. … I hope we inspire courage in everyone!”
The group’s Harvey adds, “In the part I sing in verse 1, there is a line, ‘We a movement / Never losin’ / Making moves, stay poppin.’’ When I hear this line, I think of someone strong that can’t be beaten by anyone. I really like the lyrics, since they express the desire to keep chasing a dream with a strong foundation, no matter how uncertain things may be! I feel very strong when I sing this part!”
Composed of members Jurin, Chisa, Hinata, Harvey, Juria, Maya and Cocona, XG (short for ‘Xtraordinary Girls’) debuted last year with the hip-hop-inspired rhythmic pop single “Tippy Toes,” followed by the combustible, dance-ready “Mascara.” The latter reached No. 14 on the Billboard Japan Hot 100 last year.
For “Shooting Star,” Chisa says, “Each part of this track has a different vibe, rhythm, and melody, allowing us to bring out more of our individuality. When recording my part, I really tried to picture the atmosphere in my head and visualized what Chisa would be like for this particular song.”
Check out the “Shooting Star” visual above, and listen to “Left Right” below:
In 2021 TWICE released their first-ever English single, “The Feels,” which soared into the Billboard Hot 100 and made them the fourth K-pop group to enter America’s main singles chart. To kick off 2023, the Korean troupe is eyeing another chart smash with their second English-language track “Moonlight Sunrise.”
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The slinky dance track aligns with TWICE’s brand of peppy pop numbers but boasts an additional mysterious and underlying synth groove. The ladies describe an overwhelming love affair, singing, “I don’t know how to say this, I hope this song’s on your playlist/ This feeling’s so hard to explain.”
While “The Feels” recalled TWICE’s early bubblegum-pop days, there’s a noted maturity in “Moonlight Sunrise.” The girl group delivers flirty and fun lyrics like, “Moonlight, sunrise / Baby, let’s do it all night” and “I got the moonlight, tequila sunrise / Come take a shot on me, I gotcha” — the latter of which could be a wink to the group’s excellent K-pop single “Alcohol-Free.”
TWICE also launched the music video for “Moonlight Sunrise” alongside the song release via a live premiere on YouTube.
After “The Feels” bowed at No. 83 on the Hot 100 in October 2021, TWICE nearly scored another entry with their 2022 K-pop single “Talk That Talk,” which missed the Hot 100 but managed to peak at No. 16 on the Bubbling Under Hot 100 chart. As the group’s new globally focused single, “Moonlight Sunrise” is being touted by TWICE as a “pre-release track,” indicating a larger project will soon be on the way and priming TWICE not just for exciting chart feats but the K-pop queens’ biggest year yet.
Watch TWICE’s “Moonlight Sunrise” video here:
French Montana released a statement Friday (Jan. 6) following reports that 10 people had been injured after gunfire erupted during his music video shoot.
“Last night, I was in Miami celebrating the release of my CB6 mixtape w/ friends at a local restaurant. We unfortunately were at the wrong place, at the wrong time when an incident took place that left people hurt,” Montana wrote on Twitter. “Our thoughts & prayers are w/ the victims & families at this time.”
According to WSVN 7, Miami Gardens Police and Miami-Dade Fire Rescue units responded to reports of a shooting outside The Licking, a restaurant in Miami Gardens, Fla., shortly before 8 p.m. ET on Thursday night. 7News reported that it remains unclear whether someone shot into the crowd or whether there was an exchange of gunfire. Miami-Dade Fire Rescue reported there were a total of 10 victims, four who brought themselves to the hospital and six who were transported,” as reported by NBC 6 South Florida.
Witnesses said the “Unforgettable” rapper was shooting a video at the time of the incident. One of them, local MC Ced Mogul, shared a video with NBC6 showing Montana dressed in a red shirt while sitting in the back of a car with New Orleans rapper Rob49 — whom Mogul claimed was among the victims but has yet to be confirmed by police — during the video shoot and before the shooting.
On Friday, Montana released Coke Boys 6: Money Heist Edition, the latest installment of his long-running Coke Boys mixtape series that features A$AP Rocky, Benny the Butcher, Kodak Black, Max B, King Combs, Est Gee, Jeremih and more.
See his tweet below.
Last night, I was in Miami celebrating the release of my CB6 mixtape w/ friends at a local restaurant. We unfortunately were at the wrong place, at the wrong time when an incident took place that left people hurt. Our thoughts & prayers are w/ the victims & families at this time— French Montana (@FrencHMonTanA) January 6, 2023
After 2022 saw SB19 drop their first English single “WYAT (Where You At)” and head out on their first international tour of the same name, the viral Filipino boy band is heading home and celebrating with a new single.
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A winter ballad, “Nyebe” (which means “Snow” in Tagalog) sees the quintet showing a more reflective and emotional side than the feel-good throwback pop in “WYAT.” Their strong vocals are front and center in the moving rock-pop production, where they discuss substantial questions about happiness, worries and living in the moment. Like most of the P-pop band’s material, “Nyebe” was composed by leader Pablo, who also co-produced the song with Filipino singer-songwriter Thyro Alfaro who also has credits on past SB19 tracks like “Win Your Heart” and “Ready, Set, G!”
Pablo creatively directs the official visualizer for “Nyebe” which documents behind-the-scenes moments from SB19’s travels through their recent Where You At World Tour that visited New York, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Dubai and Singapore. Filmed in black-and-white, viewers see moments of the boys hanging around a fire pit and their visit to the Sony Music headquarters in NY, but also less upbeat visuals like what appears to be an unhoused person’s cardboard shelter or trash on the sidewalk. It all speaks to a message Pablo shared via press release alongside the single saying, “Time doesn’t stop, things around us happen so fast. At the end of the day…we just have to live with it and pray, there is always a ray of hope.”
SB19 confirmed they will perform “Nyebe” at their upcoming “WYAT Homecoming Concert” on Dec. 18 at the Araneta Coliseum arena in Quezon City, Philippines. Fans worldwide can buy tickets to tune in to a live stream of the concert and even upgrade to VIP to get access to watch Pablo, Stell, Justin, Ken and Josh’s soundcheck ahead of showtime.
Watch “Nyebe” below:
Marking The Boyz‘s official debut onto the K-pop scene, Dec. 6 is always a special day for the K-pop band. Still, their milestone fifth anniversary is particularly worth celebrating this year.
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The 11-member boy group released the new single “All About You” today, Dec. 6, to mark five years since entering the K-pop scene with their debut EP, The First, in 2017. Releasing a single to commemorate their anniversary in December has become a tradition for the group with seasonal releases like “White,” “Christmassy!” and “Candles,” but the newly released acoustic-pop cut has the universal message of full-fledged, no-hold-bars love.
The accompanying music video is celebratory as we see the 11 Boyz studying in school, writing music, practicing basketball and hanging solo or in pairs before coming together to toast to five years.
Notably, “All About You” also marks the return of youngest member Eric, who had been on hiatus from the group since March due to health reasons.
After a period of rest at his home in the United States, where he was unable to participate in the group’s latest Korean and Japanese albums from this year, nor performances like KCON Los Angeles or their special “Last Man Standing” video shoot, Eric’s back. With his return, the 21-year-old co-wrote “All About You” alongside his members Juyeon, Q and Sunwoo. In late August, Sunwoo had also taken a hiatus for rest but was announced, along with Eric, to be soon re-joining the group by mid-September.
Celebrate with The Boyz below:
