Music

11 Sep 2024

Flavor Flav Surprises Gymnast Jordan Chiles With Custom Bejeweled Clock at 2024 MTV VMAs

Public Enemy’s Flavor Flav is a man of his word, and the rapper proved it on Wednesday night (Sept. 11) when he presented U.S. gymnast Jordan Chiles with a very special custom neck piece. The veteran MC took the stage to hand out the first award at the 2024 MTV VMAs alongside the American athlete, who was stripped of her bronze medal at this summer’s Paris Olympics due to a scoring dispute during the women’s individual floor exercise.

But Flav, who has become one of the nation’s most ardent athletic supporters this year, made things right. Taking the stage in a pink sweatsuit with a matching custom oversized clock pendant, Flav said it was “such an honor to be standing right next to Jordan Chiles,” as the gymnast smiled at the love from the rap icon.

Wearing a silver halter dress with long black gloves, Chiles looked surprised when Flav said he wanted to turn their intro for the best collaboration award into a “little Olympic moment.” Reaching into his pocket, Flav pulled out the custom bejeweled bronze clock pendant he had made for for Chiles, saying, “Jordan, I know they tried to take your medal away from you. But you know what? I got you something that they can’t take away from you.”

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Flav then put the giant timepiece around Chiles’ neck as the audience howled at the special moment. “I don’t even know what to say here,” Chiles said, beaming. As she thanked Flav, the “Don’t Believe the Hype” rapper pulled out one of his water polo caps from the Olympics — Flav famously gave financial support and free cruises to the U.S. women’s team — while changing out his glasses to a gold pair while hyping up his sponsorship of the water polo squad. “That’s why I wanted to turn this into an Olympic moment, a’ight?” he said, before revealing that he would also be gifting Jordan the prize money she missed out on.

“I got your prize money for you!” Flav said. “What an honor Flav!” Chiles said as the pair then teamed up to give out the award for best collaboration to Taylor Swift and Post Malone for their song “Fortnight.”

11 Sep 2024

Taylor Swift’s Kamala Harris Endorsement Post Has Directed Nearly 338,000 People to Vote.gov

The Taylor Swift effect has taken hold of politics. After announcing her endorsement of Kamala Harris for president after the Tuesday (Sept. 10) presidential debate, Swift then shared a link to Vote.gov in an Instagram story.

A spokesperson for the U.S. General Services Commission, an independent U.S. government agency that supports various other federal agencies, confirmed to Billboard that as of 2 p.m. ET on Wednesday (Sept. 11) — 15 hours after Swift’s post — 337,826 visitors were referred to Vote.gov from the custom URL created and shared by the pop star.

Vote.gov directs voters to their state election websites for state-specific voting information. Voters must then register to vote directly with their state. The site uses data analytic tools to monitor referrals to the site, including referrals from custom links like the one used by Swift.

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In a post shared with her 238 million followers after the end of the first debate between Vice President Harris and former President Donald Trump, Swift expressed her admiration for Harris, calling her a “steady-handed, gifted leader” and a “warrior” for causes she holds dear, such as LGBTQ+ rights and women’s reproductive freedoms.

“Like many of you, I watched the debate tonight,” the post also read. “If you haven’t already, now is a great time to do your research on the issues at hand and the stances these candidates take on the topics that matter to you the most. As a voter, I make sure to watch and read everything I can about their proposed policies and plans for this country.”

The Harris campaign quickly capitalized on Swift’s endorsement, putting Harris-Walz friendship bracelets up for sale in its online store after the endorsement. (These bracelets subsequently sold out.) This style of bracelet has become a staple in Swiftie culture since the beginning of The Eras Tour.

During an interview with MSNBC’s Rachel Maddow, Democratic vice presidential candidate Walz said, “I am incredibly grateful, first of all, to Taylor Swift. That was eloquent, and that’s the type of courage we need in America to stand up.”

11 Sep 2024

The Alchemist & ScHoolboy Q Link Up for ‘Ferraris in the Rain’: Watch

The Alchemist and ScHoolboy Q link up once again on the producer’s lead single from his upcoming album The Genuine Articulate and he’s going to be rapping on this one.

“Ferraris in the Rain” features Alchemist hoppin’ out various luxury vehicles to lay down some heat. “Look, I whip the ‘Rari in the rain/Ice in my veins, I’m sippin’ on Bacardi straight/ Just gettin’ started, I hardly ate/ Icin’ all on me, I’m a birthday party cake,” he spits as he literally hops out of a Ferrari SF90 Stradale. ScHoolboy then follows up with the last verse. “The rose grill, is that the pearly gates?/ The big clock, it got the bumpy face,” he raps as he stands in front of a white Rolls-Royce that he just got off layaway.

Both have had great years so far. Q dropped one of the best rap albums of the year with Blue Lips, and The Alchemist has been hella active this year as usual. He put out a couple of projects with Hit-Boy, produced tracks for Big Sean, released a new Gangrene album, and found himself intertwined in the Kendrick and Drake battle when the former used one his beats for “Meet the Grahams.” A few months back, the producer/rapper took to social media and showed fans how he made the beat.

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TMZ caught up with The Alchemist while he was leaving LAX, and he sounded pretty confident that Kendrick will be releasing an album this year. He also told them that he sends Lamar beats all the time. “I work with Dot all the time, so I’m always sending him beats.” Adding, “I got some records in this car. I’m about to go send them as soon as I get home.”

The Genuine Articulate is set to drop next week on Sept. 20.

11 Sep 2024

Here’s a Full List of 2024 MTV VMAs Winners (Updating Live)

The 2024 MTV Video Music Awards have arrived! It’s all going down Wednesday night (Sept. 11) at New York’s UBS Arena, and Billboard will be on the red carpet and inside to follow along with all the performances, major moments and winners.

Speaking of winners, going into the night, Taylor Swift leads all nominees with 12 nods, and her “Fortnight” collaborator Post Malone is right behind with 11. Eminem is up next with eight nominations, while Ariana Grande, Megan Thee Stallion, Sabrina Carpenter and SZA have seven each and Benson Boone, Billie Eilish, Chappell Roan, Charli XCX, GloRilla, LISA, Olivia Rodrigo and Teddy Swims have four.

But who will emerge the night’s big winner? Follow along with Billboard as we update our complete winners list live throughout the show.

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Video of the year

Ariana Grande – “we can’t be friends (wait for your love)” – Republic Records

Billie Eilish – “Lunch” – Darkroom / Interscope Records

Doja Cat – “Paint the Town Red” – Kemosabe Records / RCA Records

Eminem – “Houdini” – Shady / Aftermath / Interscope Records

SZA – “Snooze” – Top Dawg Entertainment / RCA Records

Taylor Swift feat. Post Malone – “Fortnight” – Republic Records

Artist of the year                    

Ariana Grande – Republic Records

Bad Bunny – Rimas Entertainment

Eminem – Shady / Aftermath / Interscope Records

Sabrina Carpenter – Island

SZA – Top Dawg Entertainment / RCA Records

Taylor Swift – Republic Records

Song of the year

Beyoncé – “Texas Hold ‘Em” – Parkwood Entertainment / Columbia Records

Jack Harlow – “Lovin on Me” – Generation Now / Atlantic Records

Kendrick Lamar – “Not Like Us” – pgLang, under exclusive license to Interscope Records

Sabrina Carpenter – “Espresso” – Island

Taylor Swift feat. Post Malone – “Fortnight” – Republic Records

Teddy Swims – “Lose Control” – Warner Records

Best new artist

Chappell Roan – Island

Gracie Abrams – Interscope Records

Tyla – Epic Records

Best collaboration

Drake feat. Sexyy Red & SZA – “Rich Baby Daddy “ – OVO / Republic Records

GloRilla, Megan Thee Stallion – “Wanna Be” – CMG / Interscope Records

Jessie Murph feat. Jelly Roll – “Wild Ones” – Columbia Records

Jung Kook feat. Latto – “Seven” – BIGHIT MUSIC / Geffen Records

Post Malone feat. Morgan Wallen – “I Had Some Help” – Mercury / Republic / Big Loud

Taylor Swift feat. Post Malone – “Fortnight” – Republic Records

Best pop

Camila Cabello – Geffen / Interscope Records

Dua Lipa – Warner Records

Olivia Rodrigo – Geffen Records

Sabrina Carpenter – Island

Tate McCrae – RCA Records

Taylor Swift – Republic Records

Best hip-hop

Drake feat. Sexyy Red & SZA – “Rich Baby Daddy “ – OVO / Republic Records

Eminem – “Houdini” – Shady / Aftermath / Interscope Records

GloRilla – “Yeah Glo!” – CMG / Interscope Records

Gunna – “fukumean” – Young Stoner Life Records / 300 Entertainment

Megan Thee Stallion – “BOA” – Hot Girl Productions

Travis Scott feat. Playboi Carti – “FE!N” – Cactus Jack / Epic Records

Best R&B

Alicia Keys – “Lifeline” – AK Records, under exclusive license to gamma.

Muni Long – “Made for Me” – Def Jam

SZA – “Snooze” – Top Dawg Entertainment / RCA Records

Tyla – “Water” – FAX Records / Epic Records

Usher, Summer Walker, 21 Savage – “Good Good” – mega / gamma.

Victoria Monét – “On My Mama” – Lovett Music / RCA Records

Best alternative

Benson Boone – “Beautiful Things” – Night Street Records, Inc. / Warner Records

Bleachers – “Tiny Moves” – Dirty Hit

Hozier – “Too Sweet” – Columbia Records

Imagine Dragons – “Eyes Closed” – KIDinaKorner / Interscope Records

Linkin Park – “Friendly Fire” – This Compilation / Warner Records

Teddy Swims – “Lose Control (Live)” – Warner Records

Best rock

Bon Jovi – “Legendary” – Island

Coldplay – “feelslikeimfallinginlove” – Atlantic Records

Green Day – “Dilemma” – Reprise Records / Warner Records

Kings of Leon – “Mustang” – Capitol Records

Lenny Kravitz – “Human” – ℗© 2024 Roxie Records Inc. under exclusive license to BMG Rights Management GmbH

U2 – “Atomic City” – Interscope Records

Best Latin

Anitta – “Mil Veces” – Floresta Records / Republic Records / Universal Music Latin Entertainment

Bad Bunny – “Monaco” – Rimas Entertainment

Karol G – “Mi Ex Tenía Razón” – Bichota / Interscope Records

Myke Towers – “LaLa” – Warner Music Latina

Peso Pluma & Anitta – “Bellakeo” – Double P Records

Rauw Alejandro – “Touching the Sky” – Sony Music Latin / Duars Entertainment

Shakira & Cardi B – “Puntería” – Sony Music US Latin

Best Afrobeats

Ayra Starr ft. Giveon – “Last Heartbreak Song” – Mavin / Republic

Burna Boy – “City Boys” – Spaceship / Bad Habit / Atlantic Records

Chris Brown ft. Davido & Lojay – “Sensational” – Chris Brown Entertainment / RCA Records

Tems – “Love Me JeJe” – Since ’93 / RCA Records

Tyla – “Water” – FAX Records / Epic Records

Usher, Pheelz – “Ruin” – mega / gamma.

Best K-pop

Jung Kook ft. Latto – “Seven” – BIGHIT MUSIC / Geffen Records

LISA – “Rockstar” – Lloud Co. / RCA Records

NCT Dream – “Smoothie” – SM Entertainment / Virgin Music Group

NewJeans – “Super Shy” – ADOR / Geffen Records

Stray Kids – “LALALALA” – JYP Entertainment / Imperial / Republic Records

TOMORROW X TOGETHER – “Deja vu” – BIGHIT MUSIC / IMPERIAL / Republic Records

Video for good

Alexander Stewart – “if you only knew” – FAE grp

Billie Eilish – “What Was I Made For (From Barbie)” – Darkroom / Interscope Records

Coldplay – “feelslikeimfallinginlove” – Atlantic Records

Joyner Lucas & Jelly Roll – “Best for Me” – Twenty Nine Music Group

RAYE – “Genesis.” – Human Re Sources

Tyler Childers – “In Your Love” – Hickman Holler Records / RCA Records

MTV push performance of the year

August 2023: Kaliii – “Area Codes” – Atlantic Records

September 2023: GloRilla – “Lick or Sum” – CMG / Interscope Records

October 2023: Benson Boone – “In The Stars” – Night Street Records, Inc. / Warner Records

November 2023: Coco Jones – “ICU” – Def Jam

December 2023: Victoria Monét – “On My Mama” – Lovett Music / RCA Records

January 2024: Jessie Murph – “Wild Ones” – Columbia Records

February 2024: Teddy Swims – “Lose Control” – Warner Records

March 2024: Chappell Roan – “Red Wine Supernova” – Island

April 2024: Flyana Boss – “yeaaa” – vnclm_/ Atlantic Records

May 2024: Laufey – “Goddess” – Laufey / AWAL

June 2024: LE SSERAFIM – “EASY” – SOURCE MUSIC / Geffen Records

July 2024: The Warning – “Automatic Sun” – Lava / Republic Records

VMAs Most Iconic Performance

Beyoncé – “Love on Top” (2011)

Britney Spears, Christina Aguilera, Madonna, Missy Elliott – “Like a Virgin” & “Hollywood” (2003)

Eminem – “The Real Slim Shady” & “The Way I Am” (2000)

Katy Perry – “Roar” (2013)

Lady Gaga – “Paparazzi” (2009)

Madonna – “Like a Virgin” (1984)

Taylor Swift – “You Belong With Me” (2009)

Best Trending Video

Beyoncé – “Texas Hold ‘Em” – Parkwood Entertainment / Columbia Records

Camila Cabello feat. Playboi Carti – “I Luv It” – Geffen / Interscope Records

Chappell Roan – “Hot to Go!” – Amusement Records / Island Records, a division of UMG Recordings, Inc.

Charli XCX – “Apple” – Atlantic Records

Megan Thee Stallion feat. Yuki Chiba – “Mamushi” – Hot Girl Productions

Tinashe – “Nasty” – Nice Life Recording Company

Best Group

*NSYNC – RCA Records

Coldplay – Atlantic Records

Imagine Dragons – KIDinaKorner / Interscope Records

NCT Dream – SM Entertainment / Virgin Music Group

NewJeans – ADOR / Geffen Records

SEVENTEEN – PLEDIS Entertainment / Geffen Records

TOMORROW X TOGETHER – BIGHIT MUSIC / IMPERIAL / Republic Records

Twenty One Pilots – Fueled By Ramen

Song of Summer

Ariana Grande – “We Can’t Be Friends (Wait for Your Love)” – Republic Records

Benson Boone – “Beautiful Things” – Night Street Records, Inc. / Warner Records

Billie Eilish – “Birds of a Feather” – Darkroom / Interscope Records

Chappell Roan – “Good Luck, Babe!” – Amusement Records / Island Records, a division of UMG Recordings, Inc.

Charli XCX & Billie Eilish – “Guess featuring Billie Eilish” – Atlantic Records

Eminem – “Houdini” – Shady / Aftermath / Interscope Records

Future, Metro Boomin & Kendrick Lamar – “Like That” – Wilburn Holding Co. / Boominati / Epic / Republic

GloRilla, Megan Thee Stallion – “Wanna Be” – CMG / Interscope Records

Hozier – “Too Sweet” – Columbia Records

Kendrick Lamar – “Not Like Us” – pgLang, under exclusive license to Interscope Records

Post Malone feat. Morgan Wallen – “I Had Some Help” – Mercury / Republic / Big Loud

Sabrina Carpenter – “Please Please Please” – Island

Shaboozey – “A Bar Song (Tipsy)” – American Dogwood / EMPIRE

SZA – “Saturn” – Top Dawg Entertainment / RCA Records

Taylor Swift feat. Post Malone – “Fortnight” – Republic Records

Tommy Richman – “Million Dollar Baby” – ISO Supremacy / PULSE Records / Concord

Best direction

Ariana Grande – “we can’t be friends (wait for your love)” – Republic Records; directed by Christian Breslauer

Bleachers – “Tiny Moves” – Dirty Hit; directed by Alex Lockett & Margaret Qualley

Eminem – “Houdini” – Shady / Aftermath / Interscope Records; directed by Rich Lee

Megan Thee Stallion – “BOA” – Hot Girl Productions; directed by Daniel Iglesias Jr.

Sabrina Carpenter – “Please Please Please” – Island; directed by Barbia Zeinali

Taylor Swift feat. Post Malone – “Fortnight” – Republic Records; directed by Taylor Swift

Best cinematography

Ariana Grande – “we can’t be friends (wait for your love)” – Republic Records; cinematography by Anatol Trofimov

Charli XCX – “Von dutch” – Atlantic Records; cinematography by Jeff Bierman

Dua Lipa – “Illusion” – Warner Records; cinematography by Nikita Nuzmenko

Olivia Rodrigo – “obsessed” – Geffen Records; cinematography by Marz Miller

Rauw Alejandro – “Touching the Sky” – Sony Music Latin / Duars Entertainment; cinematography by Camilo Monsalve

Taylor Swift feat. Post Malone – “Fortnight” – Republic Records; cinematography by Rodrigo Prieto

Best editing

Anitta – “Mil Veces” – Floresta Records / Republic Records / Universal Music Latin Entertainment; editing by Nick Yumul

Ariana Grande – “we can’t be friends (wait for your love)” – Republic Records; editing by Luis Caraza Peimbert

Eminem – “Houdini” – Shady / Aftermath / Interscope Records; editing by David Checel

LISA – “Rockstar” – Lloud Co. / RCA Records; editing by Nik Kohler

Sabrina Carpenter – “Espresso” – Island; editing by Jai Shukla

Taylor Swift feat. Post Malone – “Fortnight” – Republic Records; editing by Chancler Haynes

Best choreography

Bleachers – Tiny Moves – Dirty Hit; choreography by Margaret Qualley

Dua Lipa – “Houdini” – Warner Records; choreography by Charm La’Donna

LISA – “Rockstar” – Lloud Co. / RCA Records; choreography by Sean Bankhead

Rauw Alejandro – “Touching the Sky” – Sony Music Latin / Duars Entertainment – Choreography by Felix ‘Fefe’ Burgos

Tate McCrae – “Greedy” – RCA Records; choreography by Sean Bankhead

Troye Sivan – “Rush” – Capitol Records; choreography by Sergio Reis, Mauro Van De Kerkof

Best visual effects

Ariana Grande – “the boy is mine” – Republic Records; visual effects by Digital Axis

Eminem – “Houdini” – Shady / Aftermath / Interscope Records; visual effects by Synapse Virtual Production, Louise Lee, Rich Lee, Metaphysic, Flawless Post

Justin Timberlake – “Selfish” – RCA Records; visual effects by Candice Dragonas

Megan Thee Stallion – “BOA” – Hot Girl Productions; visual effects by Mathematic

Olivia Rodrigo – “get him back!” – Geffen Records; visual effects by Cooper Vacheron, Preston Mohr, Karen Arakelian, Justin Johnson

Taylor Swift feat. Post Malone – “Fortnight” – Republic Records; visual effects by Parliament

Best art direction

Charli XCX – “360” – Atlantic Records; art direction by Grace Surnow

LISA – “Rockstar” – Lloyd Co. / RCA Records; art direction byPongsan Thawatwichian

Megan Thee Stallion – “BOA” – Hot Girl Productions; art direction by Brittany Porter

Olivia Rodrigo – “bad idea right?” – Geffen Records; art direction by Nichaolas des Jardins

Sabrina Carpenter – “Please Please Please” – Island; art direction by Nicholas des Jardins

Taylor Swift feat. Post Malone – “Fortnight” – Republic Records; art direction by Ethan Tobman

11 Sep 2024

Destroy Lonely’s ‘Love Lasts Forever’ Leads Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums Chart

Destroy Lonely achieves his first No. 1 on Billboard’s Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart as Love Lasts Forever opens atop the list dated Sept. 14. The set, released on Opium/Interscope Records/IGLC, launches with 37,500 equivalent album units earned in the U.S. for the tracking week of Aug. 30 – Sept. 5, according to Luminate.

Of Love Lasts Forever’s starting sum, 19,000 units come through traditional album sales. Multiple configurations helped the album’s sales – including a signed CD edition and two digital download album variants, which were all exclusive to the rapper’s webstore. The two digital options each included five additional bonus songs (five different songs per variant) and sold for $5.

Album sales just eclipse the set’s streaming activity – at 18,500 units – for the biggest share of Love Last Forever’s debut. Still, the 18,500 units derived from streams represent 25.2 million official on-demand streams of the album’s songs. Track-equivalent album units, meanwhile, contribute a negligible amount of activity.

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Elsewhere, Love Lasts Forever begins at No. 1 on the Top Rap Albums chart and at No. 10 on the Billboard 200. As with Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums, both results are new career bests for the 23-year-old rapper, who hails from Atlanta. Before this week, his highest peak came through his debut LP, If Looks Could Kill, which reached No. 3 on Top Rap Albums, No. 4 on Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums and No. 18 on the Billboard 200 albums chart in May 2023.

Alongside the album’s arrival, its track “Love Hurts,” with Lil Uzi Vert, starts at No. 50 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart. The collaboration is the week’s top-streamed cut from Love Lasts Forever, at 2.7 million official U.S. clicks. “Love Hurts” secures Destroy Lonely’s third visit to the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart, after “If Looks Could Kill” (No. 30, 2023) and “How U Feel?” (No. 47, 2023). For Lil Uzi Vert, the new entry yields a 129th charting title of their career.

Activity surrounding Love Lasts Forever sparks a No. 17 debut for Destroy Lonely on the Billboard Artist 100, which measures artist activity across key metrics of music consumption – album and track sales, radio airplay and streaming – to provide a weekly multi-dimensional ranking of the most popular artists.

11 Sep 2024

D’Angelo Is Working on New Music, Raphael Saadiq Says: ‘D’s In a Good Space’

Raphael Saadiq recently revealed that he’s learning how to play piano and that D’Angelo is one of his biggest supporters — and that the elusive singer is making new music.

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“D’s in a good space right now,” Saadiq said during an appearance on the Rolling Stone Music Now podcast. “I talk to him a couple times. He’s excited. We don’t talk much, but when we do talk it’s crazy, like, ‘Oh, you gotta hear this!’ He’s like, ‘You gotta play bass. I’ve got this track. I’m telling you, you got to get on it. It got your name all over it.’”

Saadiq added: “He’s working on six pieces right now and he seems super excited. He’s in control of his own destiny at this point. He has a management team, but they can’t make him do anything that he don’t wanna do. He knows it’s on him now and I think that’s a different angle that he’s coming from.”

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One of those songs is from their Lynwood Rose days, when they formed a short-lived group with A Tribe Called Quest‘s Q-Tip. “I think it’s going to be a record on D’Angelo’s new album when it comes out, a record that we all did together,” Saadiq said. “Lynwood Rose lives. I’m playing bass, D’s playing, me and D is singing backgrounds. It’s funky as hell too. D is a bad boy. … It’s aged well. Good music ages well.”

The singer has popped out here and there since releasing his most recent album, Black Messiah, in 2014. In 2018, he contributed to the Red Dead Redemption 2 soundtrack (he’s a big fan of the series) with the song “May I? Stand Unshaken” after Rockstar Games sent him the game to test. He did a Verzuz at the Apollo in 2021 that was essentially a solo set featuring some of his friends, and he also contributed to another soundtrack alongside Jay-Z on “I Want You Forever” from The Book of Clarence released last year.

You can listen to the entire episode here.

11 Sep 2024

Raygun Is the Top-Ranked Breaker in the World? Sport’s Governing Body Explains

Australian breaker Rachael Gunn, or “b-girl Raygun,” holds the top spot in her sport’s latest world rankings despite Olympic performances that led to online ridicule.

On Tuesday, the sport’s governing body issued a statement to “provide clarity” on why Raygun tops the rankings.

Raygun, a 37-year-old university lecturer from Sydney, failed to score any points at the Paris Olympics in routines that included a “kangaroo” dance.

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The World DanceSport Federation said the ranking methodology is based on each athlete’s top four performances within the past 12 months — but excludes Olympic events including the Paris Games and Olympic qualifier series events in Shanghai and Budapest.

Additionally, no ranking events were held between December 2023 and the Olympics — to allow athletes to focus on qualification.

The federation clarified that the unusual circumstances of this year’s competition schedule resulted in many athletes being ranked based on a single event. In Raygun’s case, her first-place finish at the Oceania continental championships in October 2023 earned her 1,000 points.

Many within the breaking community have criticized the rankings for not giving a clear picture of breaking as a sport and as a culture.

“Speaking of the WDSF, they actually don’t have any real merit with the breakers or the breaking community,” said Zack Slusser, vice president of Breaking for Gold USA. “And they also haven’t been able to organize events by their measure that would contribute to creating an accurate world ranking.”

According to Slusser, breakers only performed in events organized by the WDSF — the Lausanne-based governing body for competitive dance sports — to get enough points to qualify for the Paris Olympics.

Breakers “had no incentive, no desire to even continue participating with the WDSF after that,” Slusser said. “Because they’re not cultural events. They are not enjoyable.”

11 Sep 2024

Future Announces ‘Mixtape Pluto’ Project Release Date & Reveals Cover Art

You thought there was a drought? Future is making sure his fans never get parched in 2024. The Atlanta rapper is gearing up to drop off his third project of the year.

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Future announced on Wednesday (Sept. 11) that his Mixtape Pluto project is slated to hit streaming services later this month on Sept. 20. “F*** the publicity I got this out the mud MIXTAPE PLUTO 9-20-24,” he wrote in his caption for the announcement post to social media. Future also revealed the cover art for the new project, which features the famed Dungeon family house drenched in pink fluorescent lighting.

Per Apple Music, Mixtape Pluto boasts 17 tracks in total with features not yet revealed. Pre-save links for the project are currently live.

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Freebandz’s website added merch and vinyl bundles for fans wanting to pre-order the project. CDs and vinyl records are available solo with an alternate cover switching out the pink for lime-green Brat-infused lighting in the Dungeon. The $40 bundles come with shirts in two options — purple/white or black/green.

Later the Mixtape Pluto post, Future teased a track from the project titled “Too Fast.” He appears to have shot the visual for the cut already with Kid Art at the helm directing the flick. “Bought the Patek I was moving too fast/ New G-Wagon I was moving too fast/ Got the condo I was moving too fast,” he raps.

While most of the project’s collaborators are still unknown, Travis Scott has repeatedly teased his involvement in Mixtape Pluto. Last week, he previewed a snippet from a collaboration that appears to be titled “South of France.”

On the production side, 808 Mafia’s Southside signaled he played a role in the project with Wheezy. “It’s almost that time presave link in bio can’t wait for yall to here this masterpiece me and brothers put together @wheezy @future and if you a drop one in the comments for the cover #MTP 9/20 we go up,” he wrote.

Future’s third project of 2024 follows his pair of collab albums with Metro Boomin We Don’t Trust You and We Still Don’t Trust You, both of which topped the Billboard 200 earlier this year. The duo wrapped up their We Trust You Tour north of the border in Vancouver on Sept. 9.

Find Future’s announcement post below.

11 Sep 2024

Saweetie’s ‘Nani’ Nabs No. 1 Spot on Rhythmic Airplay Chart

Saweetie enjoys a return to form on radio as her single “Nani” advances to No. 1 on Billboard’s Rhythmic Airplay chart. The track, released on ICY/Warner Records, rises from the runner-up spot to lead the list dated Sept. 14 after it became the most-played song on U.S. monitored rhythmic radio stations in the tracking week of Aug. 30 – Sept. 5, according to Luminate. For its coronation, “Nani” improved 2% in plays compared to the previous tracking week.

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With “Nani,” Saweetie picks up the fourth Rhythmic Airplay champ of her career. The rapper first led in 2019 with the two-week leader “My Type” and added two more No. 1s in 2021, the Jhene Aiko-assisted “Back to the Streets” and Doja Cat-aided “Best Friend,” which each ruled for one week.

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As “Nani” takes the throne, it unseats Kendrick Lamar’s “Not Like Us” after the latter commanded the chart for the last seven consecutive weeks, of a total 10 frames atop the ranking. (After its first three weeks atop Rhythmic Airplay, “Not Like Us” was knocked aside by Tommy Richman’s “Million Dollar Baby” and recaptured the top slot three weeks later.)

Elsewhere, “Nani” extends its stay on the R&B/hip-hop radio formats. On Mainstream R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay, “Nani” slides 18-23 in its 12th week on the list, after having reached a No. 14 best last month. With that result, “Nani” was Saweetie’s best showing on the list since “Best Friend” reached No. 9 in April 2021.

Likewise, on the audience-based R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay chart, “Nani” backtracks 20-26 in its 13th frame and slips to 3.2 million in audience, a 24% drop after promotion efforts at the format have stopped in the last week. Still, the No. 20 result made for Saweetie’s highest placement since a feature on Kendra Jae’s “Seesaw” reached the same rank in November 2021; before that, “Best Friend” was the rapper’s highest mark with a No. 14 peak earlier that year.

11 Sep 2024

Michael Bibi Donates Funds From Comeback Show to the Hospital Where He Received Cancer Treatment

Michael Bibi‘s comeback story continues with the news that the English producer has donated money raised at his July comeback show to the London hospital where he underwent cancer treatment.

“To everyone that was part of this show thank you for making this possible,” Bibi wrote on Instagram with a photo of himself presenting a check to hospital staff. “Through dancing we have directly helped other people like myself and are helping to make a difference in saving more lives. My heart is full, thank you.”

The donation — about $162,815 — was raised at Bibi’s inaugural One Life show at London’s Finsbury Park on July 2, with the performance marking his first big U.K. set back after being diagnosed with a rare form of cancer. His shows were canceled as the London-based artist went into treatment at the city’s Royal Marsden Hospital. Last December, he announced that he was officially cancer free.

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Representatives from the Royal Marsden hospital were on hand at the Finsbury Park show with information booths that raised awareness for cancer treatment and prevention.

Bibi’s One Life concept, which includes another five shows across Europe through late September, establishes a new normal for the previously globe-trotting DJ, with Bibi now playing a very select number of shows, most of them during the day and early evening.

“I’m focusing on being healthy. Also being in a hospital bed for that amount of time, I had to have a couple of surgeries, which left me a bit immobile for a while,” Bibi told Billboard ahead of the Finsbury Park show. “I’m OK now, but there was a lot of rehabilitation from lying flat on my back for such a long period of time. So I’m in the gym now, just slowly rehabilitating myself, trying to get back to how I was, the old me. Eating well, three meals a day. Spending as much time as possible with my loved ones and my friends. Sleeping well is important to me. I’m not doing any shows that are late at night anymore. I’m just chilling for now. The doctor’s orders are literally, ‘Just chill,’ and that’s what I’m doing.”

Read Bibi’s Instagram post below: