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Westside Gunn is back like he said he would be. The Buffalo rapper and Griselda Records head honcho dropped a project today entitled 12. The tape is 11 tracks long and features Estee Nack, Stove God Cooks, Brother Tom Sos, AA Rashid and Eljiah Hook, plus production from The Standouts, Denny Laflare, Daringer, Crucial Guillotine, […]
02/14/2025
Countless chart smashes have had the ideal tempo of 100-120 BPM over the years.
02/14/2025
Jelly Roll achieves his seventh No. 1 on Billboard’s Country Airplay chart as “Liar” rises 2-1 to the top of the ranking dated Feb. 22. It increased by 1% to 30.3 million impressions Feb. 7-13, according to Luminate. Explore See latest videos, charts and news See latest videos, charts and news The Nashville native co-authored “Liar” […]
02/14/2025
Billboard rounded up rap, R&B and Afrobeats songs by Rema, MF DOOM, Snoop Dogg, Burna Boy, Ashanti, Nipsey Hussle and Queen Latifah that sample and interpolate Sade.
02/14/2025
Dolly Parton and Sabrina Carpenter are the shortest and sweetest girls in Hollywood. Following the release of Carpenter’s deluxe edition of Short n’ Sweet on Friday (Feb. 14), Parton shared a video of the blonde duo meeting for the first time after the country icon lent her vocals to a remix of the pop star’s […]
Pete Davidson is in the midst of a major make-over. The Saturday Night Live veteran and star of the new box office-topping animated flick DogMan has been showing off the results of hours of painful laser sessions to burn of the more than 200 tattoos that once riddled his torso while making the rounds to promote this weekend’s SNL50: The Anniversary Celebration special.
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He’s also talking, a bit, about his string of high-profile romances and how his tabloid-target dating life while on the show turned into a huge distraction, including his whirlwind romance, engagement and break-up with Ariana Grande. “It was pretty humiliating and upsetting, honestly,” he told Page Six of the attention and noise that his personal life got during his eight seasons (2014-2022) on the show. “Everyone is dating everyone and it’s Hollywood. Look at Paul Mescal, Timmy [Chalamet], Barry Keough,” he said. “But because I’m ugly, they wrote about me. I was harassed for like five years and it made my life a living hell.”
Davidson, 31, said the focus on his off-screen romances with Kim Kardashian, Kaia Gerber, Kate Beckinsdale and Cazzie David became “embarrassing,” because he wanted people to focus on his comedy and sketch work on SNL as one of the youngest, some might say rawest, performers to ever take the stage at Studio 8H. “All that got pushed to the side because of who I was dating,” said Davidson, who auditioned for the show when he was 20.
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In one of his rare public comments about the blink-and-you-missed-it 2018 romance with Grande that began in the spring, led to an engagement in June and a break-up that October — during which he got four tattoos dedicated to Grande and she wrote a song for him, “Pete Davidison,” for her Sweetener album — Davidson said things are good these days.
“When we see each other, which is few and far between, because we’re not in the same circles, it’s all love,” Davidson said of the singer/actress, who is nominated for her first Oscar for best supporting actress in Wicked. “I hope she wins the Oscar, I hope she takes the gold,” he added. “I’ve had some pretty adult relationships with some pretty amazing women, and when it’s ended it’s been cool.”
As for that phrase that has followed him around since that time in reference to his Grande-confirmed endowment with “BDE” (aka big d–k energy), Davidson said that, too, is a bit much. “I’m a very sensitive person and it’s humiliating to see a picture of yourself eating a sandwich in a pink T-shirt with the headline ‘This is what BDE is,’” Davidson said.
Davidson is showing off his newly blank skin canvas in revealing ads for women’s clothing company Reformation and he told Page Six that after breaking up with Outer Banks actress Madelyn Cline last summer he hasn’t been dating anyone. “I’m starting to turn my life around,” said the comedian who has been open about his longtime struggle with substance use and mental health issues.
Clean and sober and out of the glare at the moment, Davidson said he feels for other stars who get descended on by the paparazzi, specifically calling out the attention focused on Justin Bieber and wife Hailey Bieber. “I look at other celebrities and I’m less judgy. They’re dogging Bieber now — leave the kid alone, he’s clearly exhausted and just trying to be a father to his kid,” said Davidson, who added that he dreams of one day having a life like his friend comedian and former SNL writer John Mulaney, who has two children with actress Olivia Munn.
“I hope that happens for me,” Davidson said.
SNL50: The Anniversary Celebration will air live on NBC at 8 p.m. ET on Sunday (Feb. 16) and then stream on Peacock.
2025 is already off to a wild start in the hip-hop world, and Billboard Unfiltered is back to break it all down with a new episode on Friday (Feb. 14), tackling all things Kendrick Lamar’s Super Bowl performance and Ye’s (formerly Kanye West) crashout.
Billboard‘s Damien Scott gave his stamp of approval to Lamar’s performance, as he loved to see Kendrick bring an “unadulterated rap show” to the biggest stage in America.
“We’ve had rappers before, but we’ve never had a rapper headline, and I’m glad it was Kendrick because what we got was a real rap show. He didn’t lean into his pop bag,” Scott said. “He kept his setlist outside of the SZA collabs it was super rap. You know how hard it is to rap ‘DNA’? I can’t imagine doing that in a leather jacket.”
Staff writer Kyle Denis enjoyed Kendrick remaining in his “imperial phase” and performing his new album rather than “mining for hits,” as we’ve seen plenty of other artists turn their Super Bowl sets into a greatest hits medley of sorts to appease the wide-ranging audience.
“You’re at the top of your game right now. As much as I wanted to hear the old stuff, I really respect what he did up there,” Denis said.
Unfiltered newcomer and hip-hop editor Angel Diaz admitted he was initially “underwhelmed” by the show, but after leaving the chaotic environment he was watching the game at and ran it back, he developed more of an appreciation for what Lamar delivered.
“It was impressive,” he said. “His wind, voice control — I kinda wanted some of the features to pop out like the mariachi singer, AzChike — I wanted to see him do ‘Peekaboo.’ When he announced SZA and people were trashing him, I thought she was gonna do more.”
Scott wonders how Kendrick’s set will translate to stadiums across the country on the Grand National Tour because of how “tightly wound” the songs are he performs. He even compared the tracks to “Swiss watches.”
Scott declared the Kendrick-Drake beef over and warned the 6 God to never say Kendrick’s name again going forward. “Don’t ever mention his name again. Just leave this alone, it’s over, bro,” he said.
Where does Ye go from here? West delivered a series of antisemitic, homophobic and hate-filled rants on X over the weekend ,which saw him praise Hitler and call for Diddy’s freedom.
“I don’t know how Ye gets back if you don’t have a built-in base to bolster you when you need it,” Scott adds. “Because we’re done. We should be the ones, ‘Get some help and we’re here for you.’ We’re like, ‘It’s over, peace.’”
Denis thinks we’ve hit a point where we have to ask ourselves if it’s worth covering Ye to this extent if he’s looking for attention.
Watch the full episode above.
New Music Latin is a compilation of the best new Latin songs and albums recommended by Billboard Latin and Billboard Español editors. Check out this week’s picks below.
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Ha*Ash & Thalia, “Amiga Date Cuenta” (Sony Music México)
Just in time for Valentine’s Day, Thalia and Ha*Ash celebrate those sincere friends capable of telling us things straight, even in the most painful moments. In “Amiga Date Cuenta” (which loosely translates to “My friend, open your eyes”), the Mexican superstar and the sisters duo join forces to make a heartbroken friend see that she is not alone and that she deserves better. “If to forget him you need to drink all night/ I am here by your side, far from that jerk/ Friends are for that,” they sing in part of the song, a fresh fusion of Ha*Ash’s characteristic pop-country style with touches of mariachi written by José Luis Roma. Featuring beautiful harmonies from all three artists, who shine both together and separately, the release arrives with a music video filmed outside of New York City that reinforces its message of female solidarity. — SIGAL RATNER-ARIAS
Kevin Kaarl, Ultra Sodade (Kevin Kaarl)
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In a world where everything seems to moving at light speed, Mexican folk star Kevin Kaarl invites listeners to slow down with Ultra Sodade, a body of work that encapsulates an intimate and heart-wrenching journey to healing after a heartbreak. The 13 songs on the albums — all penned by Kevin and produced by his brother Bryan Kaarl — seem more like short stories with Kevin’s lyricism and knack for storytelling taking centerstage.
Kevin’s deep and raspy vocals are accompanied by moody guitars for a stripped-down approach, while also incorporating subtle elements of dream pop and electronic, adding nuances to the production. “Ultra Sodade is the story of a relationship’s end,” Kevin explained in a statement. “It’s the internal struggle to move on, to leave those memories in the past and not let them keep affecting you.” — GRISELDA FLORES
DannyLux, “Ya No Estás” (Warner Music Latina)
With the tender strumming of acoustic guitars, DannyLux unfurls a melancholic yet beautiful song suited for a contemplative day of love with “Ya No Estás,” the first single from his upcoming album. Drawing inspiration from the jazz classic “Misty,” he captures the essence of heartbreak and longing in his lyrics: “Y aquí estoy yo, deseando que otra vez sienta tu amor,” the Mexican-American singer-songwriter croons. The melody gently transitions into somber piano chords, echoing the finality of goodbye and the internal battle between clinging to the past and forging ahead. — ISABELA RAYGOZA
Chris Lebrón, En Honor Al Que Ama (Rimas Entertainment)
Dominican singer-songwriter Chris Lebrón released his highly anticipated debut album, En Honor Al Que Ama, which serves as a heartfelt gift to his fans just in time for Valentine’s Day. This collection not only showcases his exceptional skills as a composer and producer but also signifies a transformative phase in his evolving musical career. With 17 tracks, the album feels more like a collection of love letters. The album’s lead single “Bandido” stands out as a powerful manifestation of heartbreak. Through evocative lyrics, Lebrón expresses his emotional tempest: “I saw the most honest man lie at the altar, and since then, I lost faith in love,” he sings in the Mexican music-inspired track.
En Honor Al Que Ama artfully weaves together a diverse palette of modern and classic rhythms, effortlessly transitioning between genres such as reggaeton, pop, ballads and Afrobeat. Lebrón reflects on the creative process, stating in a press statement, “More than just an album, this was a self-discovery journey that taught me to value every step of my path.” For the set, Lebrón recruits Cosculluela, Farruko, Justin Quiles, Natti Natasha, Manuel Turizo and El Alfa, among other acts, showcasing a blend of musical influences and styles. — INGRID FAJARDO
Ozuna & Kapo, “Mas Que Tú” (Nibiru Internacional/Sony Music Latin)
Ozuna continues to bet on Latin Afrobeat with his new release “Mas Que Tú” in collaboration with Kapo. Produced by Elcreadorhenry and co-written by both artists, the song is a soft and sensual Afrobeat with affirmative lyrics of falling in love. “Nobody kisses better than you/ Nobody has it more than you,” they sing in the chorus, also highlighting the simple and authentic beauty of that special girl. This is not the first time that the Puerto Rican hitmaker has bet on Afrobeats. In 2023 he released his EP Afro, fusing Afrobeats rhythms with his characteristic urban-Caribbean sound. Last year he also teamed up with Key Key for the remix of “Tengo un Plan” and Beéle on “Frente al Mar (Remix),“ both viral hits of the genre. He now continues to solidify the vibes alongside Kapo, one of Billboard’s Artists to Watch in 2025. — JESSICA ROIZ
Check out more Latin recommendations this week below:
The Avicii estate is again opening the vault Friday (Feb. 14), releasing of a new version of the late producer’s 2016 track “Forever Yours.” Titled “Forever Yours – Tim’s 2016 Ibiza Version,” the song comes on the heels of a pair of Avicii documentaries — I’m Tim and My Last Show — released on Netflix […]
Taylor Swift has made history by surpassing Madonna to become the female artist with the most No. 1 albums in U.K. chart history (Feb. 14). Swift claims her 13th chart-topper on the Official Albums Chart with Lover (Live In Paris), a live album first released in 2023 and recently reissued on special heart-shaped double-vinyl released […]