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As the WNBA continues to soar, courtesy of its tremendous female athletes, rising young talents, and nail-biting moments, one team exudes a swagger and moxie that has been hard to replicate all season long: the New York Liberty.
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Not only are the Liberty backed up by two-time league MVP Breanna Stewart, three-time All-Star Sabrina Ionescu, and five-time All-Star and former MVP Jonquel Jones, but they also have the hip-hop world championing their every move and dribble along the way. And now, the team stands on the brink of a historic triumph: clinching its first-ever title in franchise history, after a hard-fought Game 3 victory Wednesday night (Oct. 16) against the Minnesota Lynx in the WNBA Finals.
“The New York Liberty is restoring the feeling of pride in the streets of New York,” Ja Rule tells Billboard over email after performing at halftime of Game 2 of the Liberty’s first-round series win against the Atlanta Dream last month. “Watching Breanna Stewart take someone in the post, and the crowd erupts, is the similar feeling to hearing the distant roar of the cheers from inside Yankee Stadium through the adjacent blocks outside of the Bronx when Derek Jeter slaps a home run! In translation: New York, we are back, baby! And we are on the backs of the New York Liberty.”
Trending on Billboard
What originally was the home that Jay-Z built in 2012 when he christened the Barclays Center as a former part-owner of the Brooklyn Nets has morphed into a basketball wonderland operated by the Liberty. After reaching the WNBA Finals last year, there’s been a growing appetite for seeing the team compete, especially amongst hip-hop stars. Since then, the Liberty has had Swizz Beatz, Alicia Keys, Common, Jennifer Hudson, Fat Joe, and A Boogie wit Da Hoodie attend its games on multiple occasions, cheering them on from the sidelines.
This connection to hip-hop royalty is not just a massive win but a source of pride for Liberty, whose chief brand officer, Shana Stephenson, wanted to take the next step: inviting artists to perform at the team’s home games. Stephenson, a born-and-raised New Yorker, is an avid lover of ’90s hip-hop and saw an opportunity to bridge the gap between her two loves, women’s sports and music.
“New York is full of rich culture, and hip-hop is a key ingredient,” she says. “Basketball and hip-hop go hand in hand in hand. As someone who loves hip-hop and grew up in ’90s hip-hop, it made sense to me.”
Last year, in honor of 50 years of hip-hop, Stephenson sought ways that the Liberty could pay homage to the genre’s most respected trailblazers. She accomplished that last August when the Liberty held a concert celebrating 50 years of women in hip-hop, and enlisted MC Lyte and Rapsody as the night’s performers. Stephenson’s love for legacy acts continued this year when the Liberty stormed into the Finals for a second consecutive season. With the stakes higher than ever, she tapped acclaimed rap stars Rick Ross and Jadakiss to perform at Game 1 and 2 of the Liberty Finals home games, with the latter being in front of a record-setting crowd of 18,000 fans.
And while the Liberty franchise has reveled in watching a hip-hop’s “Who’s Who” taking centerstage during their games, it has also used its halftime performances as a platform for emerging talent, especially those from New York to take advantage of.
“We see this as a platform for up-and-coming artists looking to get their music out there and in front of a different audience,” says Stephenson, who has had Cash Cobain, Maiya The Don, Lola Brooke, and more perform. “And we know that even though they aren’t as mainstream, they also still have followings, whether it’s cult followings or underground followings. That’s also an opportunity for us to tap into their core fan base, who might not be as familiar with the Liberty or fans of the WNBA. We see that as mutually beneficial.”
“It’s beautiful,” adds Maiya the Don. “For a long time, women’s sports, especially basketball, didn’t get the shine they deserved, but now the hip-hop community is showing love in a way that’s lifting these women up. It’s dope to see artists, especially in hip-hop, recognizing their greatness and supporting them. There’s a natural connection between basketball and hip-hop, so it’s about time the ladies got that same recognition. And honestly, it’s empowering. They’re paving the way for all of us to get the respect we deserve in our lanes.”
Maiya the Don at Atlanta Dream versus the New York Liberty in Brooklyn, New York on September 22, 2024.
Courtesy of New York Liberty
With the Liberty just one game away from potentially winning its first championship in franchise history, Stephenson envisions a future of even greater success. She dreams that icons like Beyonce, Kendrick Lamar, Jay-Z, Rihanna and LL Cool J will one day grace the Liberty’s court at Barclays Center, further solidifying the bond between the Liberty and the culture.
“This is a championship we’re aiming for,” says Stephenson. “It doesn’t matter that it’s the WNBA; it doesn’t make it any less than if the Nets were competing for an NBA championship, or the Yankees or Mets competing for an MLB championship; it means a lot in the sports world to be recognized as the best. For everyone wanting to cheer us on, be supportive, be in the building for that, and know that a halftime performance can motivate the fans and players, it means a lot.”
Feid, Eden Muñoz, La Joaqui, Keityn, Peso Pluma, Young Miko, Belinda and many more were among the countless Latin music stars who took center stage in Miami for the 2024 edition of Billboard Latin Music Week, held Oct. 14-18.Some of the biggest names in Latin music made their way The Fillmore at Jackie Gleason Center in Miami Beach for exclusive conversations, performances, panels and to pose for the photobooth — with photographer David Cabrera behind the lens — as part of the weeklong event.
Artists including J Balvin, Pepe Aguilar, Young Miko and Alejandro Sanz took centerstage for one-on-one conversations for respective Icon and Superstar Q&As. Other returning panels included Making the Hit Live!, this year featuring Grupo Frontera, and the Women’s Panel with artists Bad Gyal, Belinda, Danna, Debi Nova, Mon Laferte and Zhamira Zambrano.
Over the past 35 years, Latin Music Week has become the one, steady foundation of Latin music in this country, becoming the single most important — and biggest — gathering of Latin artists and industry executives in the world. Initially named Latin Music Seminar, sponsored by Billboard, the event traces back to 1990, where it kicked off as a one-day event in Miami featuring a two-artist showcase and awards show.
Throughout the years, it has taken place in Miami, Las Vegas and Puerto Rico, returning to Miami Beach for a fourth consecutive year in 2024, and has welcomed some of the biggest Latin acts including Celia Cruz, Selena, Ricky Martin, Chayanne, Jenni Rivera, Daddy Yankee, Karol G, Bad Bunny, and Romeo Santos. Latin Music Week coincides with the 2024 Billboard Latin Music Awards set to air at 9 p.m. ET on Sunday, Oct. 20, on Telemundo. It will simultaneously be available on Universo, Peacock and the Telemundo app, and in Latin America and the Caribbean through Telemundo Internacional.
See some of the best photobooth gems captured backstage throughout Latin Music Week.
J Balvin
Image Credit: David Cabrera
J Balvin photographed on Oct. 16, 2024 at the Fillmore Miami Beach in Miami Beach, FL.
Alejandro Sanz
Image Credit: David Cabrera
Alejandro Sanz photographed on Oct. 16, 2024 at the Fillmore Miami Beach in Miami Beach, FL.
JOP
Image Credit: David Cabrera
JOP photographed on Oct. 16, 2024 at the Fillmore Miami Beach in Miami Beach, FL.
Elena Rose
Image Credit: David Cabrera
Elena Rose photographed on Oct. 16, 2024 at the Fillmore Miami Beach in Miami Beach, FL.
Pepe Aguilar
Image Credit: David Cabrera
Pepe Aguilar photographed on Oct. 16, 2024 at the Fillmore Miami Beach in Miami Beach, FL.
Lele Pons
Image Credit: David Cabrera
Lele Pons photographed on Oct. 16, 2024 at the Fillmore Miami Beach in Miami Beach, FL.
Fat Joe
Image Credit: David Cabrera
Fat Joe photographed on Oct. 16, 2024 at the Fillmore Miami Beach in Miami Beach, FL.
NMIXX
Image Credit: David Cabrera
Lily, Bae, Sullyoon, Kyujin, Jiwoo and Haewon of NMIXX photographed on Oct. 16, 2024 at the Fillmore Miami Beach in Miami Beach, FL.
Nacho
Image Credit: David Cabrera
Nacho photographed on Oct. 16, 2024 at the Fillmore Miami Beach in Miami Beach, FL.
Maria Becerra
Image Credit: David Cabrera
Maria Becerra photographed on Oct. 16, 2024 at the Fillmore Miami Beach in Miami Beach, FL.
Danny Ocean
Image Credit: David Cabrera
Danny Ocean photographed on Oct. 16, 2024 at the Fillmore Miami Beach in Miami Beach, FL.
Mau & Ricky
Image Credit: David Cabrera
Mau and Ricky photographed on Oct. 16, 2024 at the Fillmore Miami Beach in Miami Beach, FL.
Mario Bautista
Image Credit: David Cabrera
Mario Bautista photographed on Oct. 16, 2024 at the Fillmore Miami Beach in Miami Beach, FL.
Yeri Mua
Image Credit: David Cabrera
Yeri Mua photographed on Oct. 16, 2024 at the Fillmore Miami Beach in Miami Beach, FL.
Domelipa
Image Credit: David Cabrera
Domelipa photographed on Oct. 16, 2024 at the Fillmore Miami Beach in Miami Beach, FL.
J Balvin
Image Credit: David Cabrera
J Balvin photographed on Oct. 16, 2024 at the Fillmore Miami Beach in Miami Beach, FL.
Pablo Mejia Bermudez, David Escobar Gallego, Lorduy & Juan David Huertas Clavijo
Image Credit: David Cabrera
Piso 21 artists Pablo Mejia Bermudez, David Escobar Gallego, Lorduy and Juan David Huertas Clavijo photographed on Oct. 16, 2024 at the Fillmore Miami Beach in Miami Beach, FL.
Fat Joe
Image Credit: David Cabrera
Fat Joe photographed on Oct. 16, 2024 at the Fillmore Miami Beach in Miami Beach, FL.
Kunno
Image Credit: David Cabrera
Kunno photographed on Oct. 16, 2024 at the Fillmore Miami Beach in Miami Beach, FL.
NMIXX
Image Credit: David Cabrera
Sullyoon, Lily, Jiwoo, Haewon, Kyujin and Bae of NMIXX photographed on Oct. 16, 2024 at the Fillmore Miami Beach in Miami Beach, FL.
Alejandro Sanz
Image Credit: David Cabrera
Alejandro Sanz photographed on Oct. 16, 2024 at the Fillmore Miami Beach in Miami Beach, FL.
Pepe Aguilar
Image Credit: David Cabrera
Pepe Aguilar photographed on Oct. 16, 2024 at the Fillmore Miami Beach in Miami Beach, FL.
Mau & Ricky
Image Credit: David Cabrera
Mau and Ricky photographed on Oct. 16, 2024 at the Fillmore Miami Beach in Miami Beach, FL.
Nacho
Image Credit: David Cabrera
Nacho photographed on Oct. 16, 2024 at the Fillmore Miami Beach in Miami Beach, FL.
Lele Pons
Image Credit: David Cabrera
Lele Pons photographed on Oct. 16, 2024 at the Fillmore Miami Beach in Miami Beach, FL.
Elena Rose
Image Credit: David Cabrera
Elena Rose photographed on Oct. 16, 2024 at the Fillmore Miami Beach in Miami Beach, FL.
Peso Pluma
Image Credit: David Cabrera
Peso Pluma photographed on Oct. 15, 2024 at the Fillmore Miami Beach in Miami Beach, FL.
Yandel
Image Credit: David Cabrera
Yandel photographed on Oct. 15, 2024 at the Fillmore Miami Beach in Miami Beach, FL.
Tito Double P
Image Credit: David Cabrera
Tito Double P photographed on Oct. 15, 2024 at the Fillmore Miami Beach in Miami Beach, FL.
Yahritza y Su Esencia
Image Credit: David Cabrera
Jairo Martínez, Yahritza Martínez and Armando Martínez of Yahritza y Su Esencia photographed on Oct. 15, 2024 at the Fillmore Miami Beach in Miami Beach, FL.
Paola Jara
Image Credit: David Cabrera
Paola Jara photographed on Oct. 15, 2024 at the Fillmore Miami Beach in Miami Beach, FL.
Luis Figueroa
Image Credit: David Cabrera
Luis Figueroa photographed on Oct. 15, 2024 at the Fillmore Miami Beach in Miami Beach, FL.
Grupo Frontera
Image Credit: David Cabrera
Julian Pena Jr., Brian Ortega, Carlos Guerrero, Alberto Acosta, Adelaido “Payo” Solís and Juan Javier Cantu of Grupo Frontera photographed on Oct. 15, 2024 at the Fillmore Miami Beach in Miami Beach, FL.
Zhamira Zambrano
Image Credit: David Cabrera
Zhamira Zambrano photographed on Oct. 15, 2024 at the Fillmore Miami Beach in Miami Beach, FL.
Pipe Bueno
Image Credit: David Cabrera
Pipe Bueno photographed on Oct. 15, 2024 at the Fillmore Miami Beach in Miami Beach, FL.
Eslabon Armado
Image Credit: David Cabrera
Ulises Gonzalez, Brian Tovar, Pedro Tovar and Damian Pacheco of Eslabon Armado photographed on Oct. 15, 2024 at the Fillmore Miami Beach in Miami Beach, FL.
Mon Laferte
Image Credit: David Cabrera
Mon Laferte photographed on Oct. 15, 2024 at the Fillmore Miami Beach in Miami Beach, FL.
Peso Pluma
Image Credit: David Cabrera
Peso Pluma photographed on Oct. 15, 2024 at the Fillmore Miami Beach in Miami Beach, FL.
Luis Alfonso
Image Credit: David Cabrera
Luis Alfonso photographed on Oct. 15, 2024 at the Fillmore Miami Beach in Miami Beach, FL.
Young Miko
Image Credit: David Cabrera
Young Miko photographed on Oct. 15, 2024 at the Fillmore Miami Beach in Miami Beach, FL.
Bad Gyal
Image Credit: David Cabrera
Bad Gyal photographed on Oct. 15, 2024 at the Fillmore Miami Beach in Miami Beach, FL.
Danna Paola
Image Credit: David Cabrera
Danna Paola photographed on Oct. 15, 2024 at the Fillmore Miami Beach in Miami Beach, FL.
Yeison Jimenez
Image Credit: David Cabrera
Yeison Jimenez photographed on Oct. 15, 2024 at the Fillmore Miami Beach in Miami Beach, FL.
Tito Double P & Peso Pluma
Image Credit: David Cabrera
Tito Double P and Peso Pluma photographed on Oct. 15, 2024 at the Fillmore Miami Beach in Miami Beach, FL.
Jasiel Nuñez
Image Credit: David Cabrera
Jasiel Nuñez photographed on Oct. 15, 2024 at the Fillmore Miami Beach in Miami Beach, FL.
Young Miko
Image Credit: David Cabrera
Young Miko photographed on Oct. 15, 2024 at the Fillmore Miami Beach in Miami Beach, FL.
Alvaro Diaz
Image Credit: David Cabrera
Alvaro Diaz photographed on Oct. 15, 2024 at the Fillmore Miami Beach in Miami Beach, FL.
Armenta
Image Credit: David Cabrera
Armenta photographed on Oct. 15, 2024 at the Fillmore Miami Beach in Miami Beach, FL.
Belinda
Image Credit: David Cabrera
Belinda photographed on Oct. 15, 2024 at the Fillmore Miami Beach in Miami Beach, FL.
Yahritza y Su Esencia
Image Credit: David Cabrera
Jairo Martínez, Yahritza Martínez and Armando Martínez of Yahritza y Su Esencia photographed on Oct. 15, 2024 at the Fillmore Miami Beach in Miami Beach, FL.
De La Ghetto
Image Credit: David Cabrera
De La Ghetto photographed on Oct. 15, 2024 at the Fillmore Miami Beach in Miami Beach, FL.
Yandel
Image Credit: David Cabrera
Yandel photographed on Oct. 15, 2024 at the Fillmore Miami Beach in Miami Beach, FL.
Alex Sensation
Image Credit: David Cabrera
Alex Sensation photographed on Oct. 15, 2024 at the Fillmore Miami Beach in Miami Beach, FL.
Fidel
Image Credit: David Cabrera
Fidel photographed on Oct. 15, 2024 at the Fillmore Miami Beach in Miami Beach, FL.
Saiko
Image Credit: David Cabrera
Saiko photographed on Oct. 15, 2024 at the Fillmore Miami Beach in Miami Beach, FL.
Peso Pluma
Image Credit: David Cabrera
Peso Pluma photographed on Oct. 15, 2024 at the Fillmore Miami Beach in Miami Beach, FL.
Omar Courtz
Image Credit: David Cabrera
Omar Courtz photographed on Oct. 15, 2024 at the Fillmore Miami Beach in Miami Beach, FL.
Young Miko
Image Credit: David Cabrera
Young Miko photographed on Oct. 15, 2024 at the Fillmore Miami Beach in Miami Beach, FL.
Danna Paola
Image Credit: David Cabrera
Danna Paola photographed on Oct. 15, 2024 at the Fillmore Miami Beach in Miami Beach, FL.
Mon Laferte
Image Credit: David Cabrera
Mon Laferte photographed on Oct. 15, 2024 at the Fillmore Miami Beach in Miami Beach, FL.
Dei V
Image Credit: David Cabrera
Dei V photographed on Oct. 15, 2024 at the Fillmore Miami Beach in Miami Beach, FL.
Debi Nova
Image Credit: David Cabrera
Debi Nova photographed on Oct. 15, 2024 at the Fillmore Miami Beach in Miami Beach, FL.
Caleb Calloway
Image Credit: David Cabrera
Caleb Calloway photographed on Oct. 15, 2024 at the Fillmore Miami Beach in Miami Beach, FL.
Alexis Fierro
Image Credit: David Cabrera
Alexis Fierro photographed on Oct. 15, 2024 at the Fillmore Miami Beach in Miami Beach, FL.
Dascha Polanco
Image Credit: David Cabrera
Dascha Polanco photographed on Oct. 14, 2024 at the Fillmore Miami Beach in Miami Beach, FL.
Feid
Image Credit: David Cabrera
Feid photographed on Oct. 14, 2024 at the Fillmore Miami Beach in Miami Beach, FL.
Eden Muñoz
Image Credit: David Cabrera
Eden Muñoz photographed on Oct. 14, 2024 at the Fillmore Miami Beach in Miami Beach, FL.
Corina Smith
Image Credit: David Cabrera
Corina Smith photographed on Oct. 14, 2024 at the Fillmore Miami Beach in Miami Beach, FL.
KEITYN
Image Credit: David Cabrera
KEITYN photographed on Oct. 14, 2024 at the Fillmore Miami Beach in Miami Beach, FL.
Valentina
Image Credit: David Cabrera
Valentina photographed on Oct. 14, 2024 at the Fillmore Miami Beach in Miami Beach, FL.
Jimmy Humilde
Image Credit: David Cabrera
Jimmy Humilde photographed on Oct. 14, 2024 at the Fillmore Miami Beach in Miami Beach, FL.
Kenia Os
Image Credit: David Cabrera
Kenia Os photographed on Oct. 14, 2024 at the Fillmore Miami Beach in Miami Beach, FL.
Corina Smith
Image Credit: David Cabrera
Corina Smith photographed on Oct. 14, 2024 at the Fillmore Miami Beach in Miami Beach, FL.
La Joaqui
Image Credit: David Cabrera
La Joaqui photographed on Oct. 14, 2024 at the Fillmore Miami Beach in Miami Beach, FL.
Eden Muñoz
Image Credit: David Cabrera
Eden Muñoz photographed on Oct. 14, 2024 at the Fillmore Miami Beach in Miami Beach, FL.
Feid
Image Credit: David Cabrera
Feid photographed on Oct. 14, 2024 at the Fillmore Miami Beach in Miami Beach, FL.
On Wednesday night (Oct. 16), Billie Eilish beamed with pride as tens of thousands of birds of a feather stuck together and relished in the cinematic world of her Hit Me Hard and Soft LP. The nine-time Grammy winner played her first of three sold-out shows at New York City’s Madison Square Garden, the most times she’s ever graced the iconic venue on a headlining tour.
Anchored by the still-permeating tracks of Hard and Soft, Eilish’s latest trek displays her remarkable growth as a musician, vocalist, and performer, as well as her almost singular ability to cultivate intimacy in spaces that are diametrically opposed to that feeling. Dressed in her now-trademark ensemble of an oversized t-shirt, baggy shorts, sneakers, and a Yankees snapback, Eilish sprinted around the stage, spent some time with fans on the floor, and treated The Garden two hours to some of the best and most adventurous pop music of the last half-decade.
The morning of the show, Eilish launched a SoHo pop-up in collaboration with American Express featuring exclusive merchandise and interactive stations inspired by the world of Hard and Soft. Before she took the stage, pop-rock sibling duo Nat & Alex Wolff — who some fans fondly remember as The Naked Brothers Band from Nickelodeon — warmed up the arena, delivering spirited renditions of tracks like 2020’s “Glue” and “Soft Kissing Hour,” an unreleased Eilish-produced cut. At one point, Alex Wolff ran an entire lap on the floor around the stage before kicking off the final song in the duo’s set — a particularly impressive feat considering what a busy weekend the multihyphenate has ahead of him. The Line, his new film in which he stars alongside Halle Bailey, Denise Richards and the late Angus Cloud, opens on Friday (Oct. 18).
Wolff’s affinity for a quick lap was just a teaser for Eilish, who frequently sprinted around the stage during her livelier songs. With the stage in the center of the arena and a setup that prioritized her band and incredibly intricate lighting design over backup dancers and elaborate set pieces, Eilish offered up a show that played on the minimalist bent of her music. The sparseness of the stage created scenes that were as enthralling and they were harrowing, particularly during ballads like “When the Party’s Over,” “Lovely” and “What Was I Made For?” Of course, eye-popping pyro and dizzying lasers played up the spunky, electronic undertones of hits like “Bad Guy,” “Therefore I Am” and “Guess.”
Ultimately a gorgeous presentation of her latest Billboard chart-topping album, Hit Me Hard and Soft: The Tour was also a commendable victory lap for a pop star who only seems to know how to level up. Here were the eight best moments from Wednesday night’s show.
Billie Builds “When the Party’s Over” From Scratch
Tyler, the Creator is back. The Grammy Award-winning rapper announced plans for his eighth studio album on Thursday (Oct. 17). Titled Chromakopia, the set will be released later this month.
Following an initial teaser on Wednesday (Oct. 16), Tyler revealed Chromakopia‘s cover art along with the project’s Oct. 28 release date, which is a Monday rather than the typical Friday.
“All songs written, produced and arranged by Tyler Okonma,” reads the text across the cover in a shade of emerald green. As for the art, it’s a black-and-white photo of Tyler as the soldier rocking a mask who fans got a glimpse of in the “St. Chroma” visual earlier this week.
Trending on Billboard
Chromakopia will serve as the official follow-up to 2021’s Call Me If You Get Lost. Tyler had released an album every other year since his Goblin debut in 2011, but that streak came to and end when no project arrived in 2023.
Fans can access the Chromakopia website, where they can pre-save the album and pre-order merch bundles filled with CDs, hoodies, hats, T-shirts, tote bags and mini commemorative Chromakopia containers.
Fans got their first taste of Tyler launching into his new era on Wednesday when the musician posted a clip of the “St. Chroma” video, which some fans believed to be the opening track of his next album. Solange Knowles, Lil Yachty, Gunner Stahl, IDK, Lil Dicky, Wolfacejoeyy, Laila!, Swizz Beatz, Doechii, Wynne and more hopped into his comment section on IG to show him love.
Call Me If You Get Lost arrived in June 2021 and debuted atop the Billboard 200 with 169,000 total album units sold in the first week. The LP won best rap album at the 2022 Grammy Awards.
Next up, Tyler will be performing at his Camp Flog Gnaw festival at Dodger Stadium during the weekend of Nov. 16 and Nov. 17, where attendees will likely get to hear music from his upcoming album. A full lineup for the carnival is yet to be revealed.
Check out the Chromakopia cover below.
Cardi B is taking care of some business with a nine-day trip to Los Angeles. The Bronx native hopped on X Spaces on Wednesday afternoon (Oct. 16) to discuss her plans while on the West Coast, which include tending to her long-awaited sophomore LP.
“I’m also in L.A. because I have to do something pertaining the album. I know you guys are gonna be like, ‘What the f–k, b—h?’ But it’s something that’s gonna be done really f–king quick,” she said. “It’s just gonna be a one-two. I did it when I was pregnant, and nothing came out how I wanted it to come, out so we gotta do it again.”
Cardi continued without saying exactly what she had to do for the LP. “It’s gonna be amazing and unique because everything I do it gotta be amazing and unique,” she promised. “I’m sorry for the delay. It’s not gonna be a crazy delay. It’s gonna come out amazing. I’m gonna be out here for nine days.”
Trending on Billboard
It’s been more than six years since 2018’s Invasion of Privacy and Cardi has teased the album for 2024, but the calendar days left in the year are dwindling.
“Album is coming really, really soon, announcements is coming really really soon,” she promised later on. “Things are getting more done now! I’m not pregnant no more.”
Cardi delivered a pair of singles with Billboard Hot 100 hits “Enough (Miami)” and “Like What (Freestyle)” earlier this year, but then cooled off and leaned on a few assists while hopping on Rob 49’s “On Dat Money” and Megan Thee Stallion and GloRilla’s “Wanna Be (Remix).”
The 32-year-old also gave birth to her third child with estranged husband Offset in September. Following her filing for divorce from the Migos rapper at the end of July, Cardi is enjoying her new chapter in life.
“Life has been really weird,” she added. “I’m single and I’ve been having fun, but I feel like me being single and me having fun, I have to stop it because I don’t want it to get in the way of my work. I’m paranoid to give people my time, I’m just playing around right now,” she said with a laugh. “I just want peace.”
Listen to the full Spaces session below.
Prior to Liam Payne‘s death on Wednesday (Oct. 16), a hotel manager in Buenos Aires, Argentina called 911 to report a guest who was “overwhelmed with drugs and alcohol,” adding, “he’s destroying the entire room and, well, we need you to send someone, please.”
According to the Associated Press, the caller’s voice grew more anxious as the call continued, with the hotel manager noting that the room had a balcony. Former One Direction and solo star Payne, 31, was found dead on Wednesday after officials said he sustained “extremely serious injuries” in a fall from the third-floor balcony of his room — approximately 42-45 feet from the ground — at the Casa Sur Hotel in the Palermo neighborhood of the nation’s capital city.
While the initial reports stated that Payne fell, the AP reported that Buenos Aires Security Ministry spokesperson Pablo Policicchio told the news service in a statement that Payne “had jumped from the balcony of his room.”
Trending on Billboard
Police were dispatched the to scene following the emergency call around 5 p.m. local time on Wednesday according to Policicchio, after being told by hotel staff that there was an “aggressive man who could be under the influence of drugs or alcohol.” Officials are reportedly still investigating the circumstances of Payne’s death, with an autopsy under way.
In the days since, fans have gathered in a vigil outside the hotel for the beloved boy band star, lighting candles and singing 1D’s “Night Changes” and “Story of My Life,” while his music industry peers and family have shared their grief over the shocking loss.
Payne’s rise to stardom began in 2010 at age 17 when he was paired with the other members of what would become One Direction by Simon Cowell after the quintet’s singers all auditioned for the British X-Factor as solo acts. Along with Harry Styles, Louis Tomlinson, Niall Horan and Zayn Malik, Payne was thrust into instant global adoration in 2012 after the late 2011 release of the band’s debut single, “What Makes You Beautiful,” which went to No. 4 on the Billboard Hot 100 and No. 1 in the UK.
The song memorably opens with one of Payne’s most beloved, iconic vocals, in which he sings, “You’re insecure, don’t know what for/ You’re turning heads when you walk through the door/ Don’t need makeup to cover up/ Bein’ the way that you are is enough.” During the band’s subsequent six-year run they scored four No. 1 albums on the Billboard 200 and six top 10 Billboard Hot 100 hits.
After the group hit pause, Payne — who never headlined his own tour — released his lone solo album, 2019’s LP1, as well a string of singles, including the 2017 Billboard Hot 100 No. 10 Hit “Strip That Down” (featuring Quavo), “Get Low” (feat. Zedd, No. 23, 2017), “Bedroom Floor” (No. 35, 2017), “For You (Fifty Shades Freed)” (feat. Rita Ora, No. 37, 2018) and “Familiar” (feat. J Balvin, No. 25, 2018). He also released the 2018 EP First Time, as well as singles with Jonas Blue and Lennon Stella (“Polaroid,” 2018), A Boogie Wit da Hoodie (“Stack It Up,” 2019), Cheat Codes (“Live Forever,” 2019) and Dixie D’Amelio (“Naughty List,” 2020).
His final single, “Teardrops,” co-written by former *NSYNC member JC Chasez, was released in March.
After the group went on indefinite hiatus in 2016, the singer was open about how the dizzying rush of fame overwhelmed him, leading to a yearslong substance use struggle. In July 2023, he posted an eight-minute video in which he revealed that he was almost six months sober following a 100-day stay in a Louisiana rehab facility.
“I just kind of feel like I’ve got more of a grip on life and everything that was getting away from me, I just feel like I’ve got more of a handle on it,” Payne said at the time. “I just needed to take a little bit of time out for myself actually because I kind of became somebody who I didn’t really recognize anymore. And I’m sure you guys didn’t either. I was in bad shape up until that point and I was really happy to kind of put a stopper to life and work.”
In a 2019 interview, Payne admitted that he had trouble adjusting to 1D’s Beatles-like level of fan adoration at the height of the group’s success, frequently leaning on alcohol to cope with the stress. “It’s almost like putting the Disney costume on before you step up on stage and underneath the Disney costume I was pissed quite a lot of the time because there was no other way to get your head around what was going on,” he said. “I mean, it was fun. We had an absolute blast, but there were certain parts of it where it just got a little bit toxic.”
Then, in a Diary of a CEO podcast appearance in 2021, Payne talked about struggling with depression and substance use disorder during the chaotic 1D years. “I was worried how far my rock bottom was going to be. Where’s rock bottom for me?” the singer told host Stephen Bartlett. “And you would never have seen it. I’m very good at hiding it. No one would ever have seen it.”
He described how the pressure and intense fan attention during the height of the group’s fame transformed him into an “angry person” who turned to prescription pills and alcohol to numb his anxiety and fear. When host Bartlett asked if that period included “suicidal ideation,” Payne said it did, explaining, “There is some stuff that I have definitely never, never spoken about. It was really, really, really severe. It was a problem. And it was only until I saw myself after that I was like, ‘Right, I need to fix myself.’”
Payne said the substance use continued for “many years” and then returned during England’s COVID-19 lockdown in 2020, when he took a break from recording solo songs for a few months due to exhaustion, only to find himself drinking more and more, and earlier and earlier in the day. “What I’ve found more than anything with the alcohol is boundaries. If you’re on Zoom you can probably get away with being a bit tipsy, when you’re not supposed to be,” he said at the time.
After catching a glimpse of one of his performances on TV looking bloated and unwell, he said he began working out, attending meetings and going to therapy.
If you or anyone you know is struggling with mental health or substance abuse disorders, reach out to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration‘s national helpline 24/7 at 1-800-662-HELP (4357) for confidential treatment referrals and information. For those who are experiencing suicidal thoughts and/or distress, the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is available 24/7 by texting 988.
Yeah Yeah Yeahs’ “Maps” earns a second week at No. 1 on the TikTok Billboard Top 50 chart, while five songs – four of them debuts – break into the top 10 of the Oct. 19-dated ranking.
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The TikTok Billboard Top 50 is a weekly ranking of the most popular songs on TikTok in the United States based on creations, video views and user engagement. The latest chart reflects activity from Oct. 7-13. Activity on TikTok is not included in Billboard charts except for the TikTok Billboard Top 50.
“Maps,” from Yeah Yeah Yeahs’ 2003 album Fever to Tell, peaked at No. 87 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 2004. Its TikTok resurgence has pushed the song to new heights on chart-reporting music streaming services; the song racked up 1.9 million official U.S. streams in the week ending Oct. 10, up 23%, according to Luminate.
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The tune remains driven by a pair of trends on TikTok. One is a dance, while the other features creators using a filter to remove their facial features, only to have said features float back onto their face, sometimes in the wrong spot. A sped-up version of “Maps” has contributed to the song’s success on TikTok as well.
Alphaville’s “Forever Young,” which reigned on the TikTok Billboard Top 50 dated Oct. 5, rebounds 3-2 on the latest list, followed by a debut in John Mackk’s “Pose for Me,” featuring Natalie Nunn, which bows at No. 3.
“Pose for Me” was originally released in March, but a remix dropped on Sept. 6 that has driven the lion’s share of the activity since. With its eponymous command, the song has spurred a variety of pose-related dance moves on TikTok, generally centered on Nunn’s verse that continues, “Baddies, pose for me/ A– fat, slim thick, no tummy.”
“Pose for Me” marks the first appearance on a Billboard chart for both Mackk and Nunn. The song earned 736,000 streams in the week ending Oct. 10.
Gracie Abrams’ “I Love You, I’m Sorry” isn’t new to the TikTok Billboard Top 50, rising as high as No. 34 in September. But the Oct. 19 ranking finds it reaching new heights, re-entering the chart at No. 4. That’s concurrent with a return to Billboard’s Streaming Songs chart; it re-entered at No. 49 on the Oct. 12 list and vaults to a new peak of No. 23 on the latest ranking, thanks to 11.5 million streams, up 41%.
Its resurgence is partially tied to a new version of the song; Abrams played a live take of the song for Vevo Extended Play, uploading it to her YouTube on Oct. 2. Recent TikTok uploads again zero in on Abrams’ “lay on the horn to prove that it haunts me” lyric, with the majority relating in some way to relationships past and present.
KSI’s “Thick of It,” which features Trippie Redd, debuts at No. 6 on the TikTok Billboard Top 50, concurrent with the song’s debut at No. 84 on the Hot 100. Some say all publicity is good publicity, and in the case of “Thick of It,” many of the top-performing TikTok uploads reference the negative reviews the song has received.
Johnny Cash’s “Folsom Prison Blues” bows at No. 7, albeit a remix of the song that was featured in the trailer for the film Wrath of Man. Its usage on TikTok in the latest tracking week revolves around uploads showcasing the devastation of Hurricane Milton in the U.S. (and previously that of Hurricane Helene).
It’s Cash’s second top 10 on the TikTok Billboard Top 50 in 2024; “The Chicken in Black” peaked at No. 6 in May.
The final top 10 debut of the week belong’s to Akon, whose “Akon’s Beautiful Day” starts at No. 8. It’s a new song from the veteran singer-songwriter, released on Oct. 4 after being teased on TikTok in the weeks leading up. Many of the top uploads are from Akon himself, along with other usages.
@akon Wow, thank you for all the amazing videos you’re creating to ‘Akon’s Beautiful Day’! Can’t wait to share the official release with the world on October 4th. Let’s keep the gratitude flowing! ♬ Akon’s Beautiful Day – Akon
See the full TikTok Billboard Top 50 here. You can also tune in each Friday to SiriusXM’s TikTok Radio (channel 4) to hear the premiere of the chart’s top 10 countdown at 3 p.m. ET, with reruns heard throughout the week.
Morgan Wallen is set to bring his own music festival to the beaches of Gulf Shores, Ala., next year, when the 15-time Billboard Music Awards winner launches his three-day Sand in My Boots Festival running May 16-18, 2025. Wallen has teamed with AEG Presents (producers of Stagecoach, California’s Country Music Festival and Hangout Music Festival) and the Hangout Festival to hold his event at the same site that hosts the annual Hangout Festival.
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The full talent lineup and ticketing details for Wallen’s Sand in My Boots Festival will be revealed in coming weeks, but the lineup will be multi-genre and will feature some of the country star’s closest friends, favorite artists and musicians he has always wanted to perform with. The festival shares its name with Wallen’s 2022 No. 1 Billboard Country Airplay hit.
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Wallen said in a video posted on social media, “Morgan Wallen here to share some exciting news me and my team have been working on for a while for y’all. We’re heading south to the beaches of Gulf Shores, Alabama and I’m bringing some good friends with me. Mark your calendars for May 16 – 18, 2025 for the Sand In My Boots Fest. Stay tuned and we’ll get you some more info soon!”
Stacy Vee, executive vp of Goldenvoice and Producer of Stagecoach, said in a statement, “Creating a Festival with Morgan has been a dream come true … and some of the most fun I have ever had booking a show! I can’t wait for fans to come and experience one of the most eclectic and electric lineups and on-site experiences the world has ever seen.”
AEG Presents and Hangout Festival Producer Reeves Price added, “The opportunity to bring Morgan’s world to life on the beach in Gulf Shores is something very special. The fact that it coincides with the 15th anniversary of the Hangout Festival only makes it more special. We can’t wait to see everyone back on the beach in May.”
The upcoming Sand in My Boots festival isn’t the only festival Wallen has had a hand in spearheading recently. Earlier this year, he and Eric Church teamed up to launch and curate the Field & Stream Music Festival, which had been slated for Oct. 4-6 in Winnsboro, S.C., with a lineup to include Church, Lainey Wilson and ZZ Top. However, the inaugural festival had to be postponed due to the widespread damage of Hurricane Helene. The Field & Stream Music Festival is part of Wallen and Church’s acquisition of the outdoor lifestyle brand Field & Stream, announced earlier this year.
Kendrick Lamar already has 17 Grammys to his name, and he could add several more if “Not Like Us” dominates next month’s Grammy nominations announcement (Nov. 8).
A strong contender for both record and song of the year, the Billboard Hot 100-topping diss track is also a frontrunner in the rap field categories of best rap song and best rap performance. Should “Not Like Us” take home the gold in both of those categories, it would become the fifth Lamar track to pull off the feat following “I” (2015), “Alright” (2016), “Humble” (2018), and “The Heart Part 5” (2023).
As can be the case across genres, there has been a fair amount of overlap between performance and songwriting categories in the rap field over the years. Since the best rap performance category was introduced in 2012 – several more specific categories were condensed in a major rehaul of the ceremony — eight songs have triumphed both there and in best rap song, which was introduced in 2004. In addition to Lamar’s victories, the other winners include Jay-Z & Kanye West‘s “N—as in Paris” (2013), Macklemore & Ryan Lewis‘ “Thrift Shop” (2014), Megan Thee Stallion & Beyoncé‘s “Savage” (2021) and Killer Mike, Future, André 3000 and Eryn Allen Kane‘s “Scientists & Engineers” (2024).
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Before the categories were restructured, two best rap song winners — Jay-Z, Rihanna and West’s “Run This Town” (2010) and Jay-Z & Alicia Keys‘ “Empire State of Mind” (2011) — also won best rap/sung performance (now called best melodic rap performance). In 2004, Eminem‘s “Lose Yourself” won best rap song — making him the inaugural winner in that category — and best male rap solo performance.
But what tracks could block “Not Like Us” from a rap field sweep? Let’s break down the leading contenders in both categories.
Best Rap Song
First, there’s the question of “Like That.” If Lamar’s Hot 100-topping collaboration with Future & Metro Boomin wins both best rap song and best rap performance, Lamar would still earn his fifth double-whammy. In the event that both “Not Like Us” and “Like That” earn nods in best rap song, Lamar would increase his tally to 10 career nods in this category — the fourth most of all time. A nod for “Like That” would earn Future his fourth nomination in this category and Metro Boomin his first.
Two non-Lamar Hot 100 chart-toppers could also earn nods here: Megan Thee Stallion’s “Hiss” and Ye & Ty Dolla $ign‘s “Carnival.” Megan remains the first and only female rapper to win this category, and a nod for “Hiss” would be her first nomination in this category for a solo song. Ye (formerly known as Kanye West) has the most wins in the history of this category (7); a nod for “Carnival” here would be his seventeenth — the most of all time — and Ty Dolla $ign’s first. “Carnival” could also earn career-first Grammy nods for Don Toliver and Playboi Carti, who are credited songwriters and featured artists on the track.
Carti is also in contention by way of Travis Scott‘s “FE!N,” which reached No. 5 on the Hot 100 in 2023. The duo performed the track at the 2024 Grammy telecast, where its parent album, the Billboard 200-topping Utopia lost best rap album to Killer Mike’s Michael. Between his globe-trotting Circus Maximus Tour and a historic re-release of his decade-old Days Before Rodeo mixtape, Travis has remained a consistent presence this year. Killer Mike, on the other hand, could bookend his 2024 victory in this category with “Humble Me.”
Two other massive 2024 Hot 100 hits — Jack Harlow‘s “Lovin On Me” (No. 1) and Tommy Richman‘s “Million Dollar Baby” (No. 2) — are also very strong contenders. Richman is looking for his first Grammy nod, while Harlow is looking to earn his second nod in this category following “Churchill Downs” (with Drake) in 2023.
There are also a number of other notable Hot 100 hits that are in contention, including: Sexyy Red‘s “Get It Sexy” (No. 20), Nicki Minaj‘s “FTCU” (No. 15), GloRilla‘s “Yeah Glo” (No. 28), Flo Milli‘s “Never Lose Me” (No. 15), Doja Cat‘s “Demons” (No. 46), Lil Baby & Central Cee‘s “Band4Band” (No. 18), Cardi B‘s “Enough” (No. 9) and 21 Savage‘s “Redrum” (No. 5). Both Lil Baby and Cardi B are seeking their second nominations in this category, while Minaj and Doja are each aiming for their third. 21 Savage, who won this category alongside J. Cole for “A Lot” in 2020, is looking to earn his fourth nomination in this category. Out of these contenders, Hot Girl Summer tourmates Megan Thee Stallion and GloRilla are likely the strongest contenders, but both have a more favorable history in best rap performance.
As always, there are also a few dark horses for which to keep an eye out. Rapsody, a previous nominee in this category for “Sassy” back in 2018, could pull off a nomination for “Asteroids,” while ScHoolboy Q could earn his first nod in this category with “Thank God 4 Me.” Eminem is the inaugural winner of this category, and he’s since added four additional nominations. “Tobey” (with Big Sean and BabyTron) could earn Slim Shady his first best rap song nod since 2019, when his Joyner Lucas-assisted “Lucky You” earned a nomination. Lucas is also in contention with his Jelly Roll duet, “Best for Me,” which earned a nod for best video for good at the MTV Video Music Awards last month. Finally, Common could earn his second nomination in this category with “When the Sun Shines Again” (with Pete Rock and Posdnuos).
Our Fearless Forecast
So, which five songs have the best chance to be nominated in this Grammy category? The rap field is always unpredictable, but here goes nothing: “Not Like Us” (Kendrick Lamar), “Lovin On Me” (Jack Harlow), “Like That” (Future, Metro Boomin & Lamar), “Asteroids” (Rapsody) and “Carnival” (Ye, Ty Dolla $ign, Don Toliver & Playboi Carti)
Best Rap Performance
Given the history of overlap between best rap song and best rap performance, most of the aforementioned songs are also contenders in this category. Some other Hot 100 hits to keep an eye on include Bryson Tiller‘s “Whatever She Wants” (No. 19), Eminem’s “Houdini” (No. 2) and Megan Thee Stallion and Yuki Chiba‘s “Mamushi” (No. 36). A nod in this category would be the first for Tiller and Chiba. Also in contention here with “Hiss,” Megan is looking to add to her two previous nominations in this category. Eminem has earned 12 career nods across rap performance categories; he has won best rap solo performance three times in addition to one triumph in best male rap solo performance and two wins in best rap performance by a duo or group.
Other strong contenders include Doechii‘s “Nissan Altima,” Latto‘s “S/O to Me,” LL Cool J & Eminem’s “Murdergram Deux,” Big Sean‘s “Yes” and ScHoolboy Q’s “Blueslides.”
Our Fearless Forecast
So, which five songs have the best chance to be nominated in this category? I predict: “Not Like Us” (Kendrick Lamar), “HISS” (Megan Thee Stallion), “Like That” (Future, Metro Boomin & Lamar), “Murdergram Deux” (LL Cool J & Eminem) and “Yeah Glo” (GloRilla)
ROSÉ is launching her solo era, and she’s bringing one of pop music’s biggest names along for the ride. On Thursday (Oct. 17), the BLACKPINK star and Bruno Mars announced that they’re teaming up on a new single titled “Apt.” — and it’s coming even sooner than you think. Breaking the news to fans via […]