Music

22 Jul 2024

Druski Announces First-Ever ‘Coulda Fest’ Comedy & Music Festival Featuring Lil Baby, Kai Cenat & More

This September, comedian and social media personality Druski will kick off his first-ever comedy/music festival, Coulda Fest, in Atlanta.

On Sept. 7 at the State Farm Arena, Druski will co-host Coulda Fest alongside Wild n Out star and comedian DC Young Fly, with performances by Lil Baby, Kai Cenat, Soulja Boy, Waka Flocka Flame, Yung Joc, Young Dro, Roscoe Dash, Navv Greene, Travis Porter, DJ Unk, Baby Drill, Baby Kia, Shop Boyz, Yung LA, F.L.Y., Rich Kidz, and Ugliest Rapper Alive. Kai Cenat will also appear, as Druski will provide live comedic sketches alongside the music portion of the night, which looks to pay homage to the Atlanta hip-hop scene through nostalgia and humor.

“Coulda Fest won’t be a traditional music and comedy festival,” Druski tells Billboard exclusively. “It’s going to be a celebration of Atlanta’s culture and a night full of hilarious sketches that bring us back to the special times in our city’s music history. This concept has never been done before, so I’m looking forward to bringing this vision to life.” 

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Produced by Outback Presents, tickets for Coulda Fest will be available with a presale starting on Wednesday (July 24) at 10 a.m. EST (code: COULDA). An extra venue presale will kick off on Thursday (July 25) at 10 a.m. EST ahead of the general on-sale that begins on Friday (July 26) at 10 a.m. EST via 4Lifers.com & ticketmaster.com.  

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Coulda Fest comes on the heels of Complex naming Druski the No. 1 Funniest Person on the Internet Right Now in June.

22 Jul 2024

Now That the Apollo Has Been Selected, What’s the Next Concert Venue That Deserves a Kennedy Center Honor?

Last week, the Apollo theater in Harlem was selected as the first venue to receive a Kennedy Center Honor. The Apollo will receive a special award as an iconic American institution, right alongside the four individuals who are being honored — Bonnie Raitt; Grateful Dead; jazz trumpeter, pianist, and composer Arturo Sandoval; and filmmaker Francis Ford Coppola.

The prestigious honors will be presented on Dec. 8 at a ceremony at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, D.C. CBS will broadcast the two-hour program on Dec. 23.

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“The Apollo, one of the most consequential, influential institutions in history, has elevated the voices of Black entertainment in New York City, nationally, and around the world, and launched the careers of legions of artists,” Kennedy Center chairman David M. Rubenstein said in a statement announcing the surprise selection.

This is a rare occasion that the Kennedy Center Honors has veered from its usual practice of honoring individuals. Six years ago, the program honored four key creators of the Broadway sensation Hamilton: An American Musical (Lin-Manuel Miranda, Thomas Kail, Alex Lacamoire, and Andy Blankenbuehler). Five years ago, it honored the legendary children’s TV program Sesame Street (the award was presented to the show’s creators, Lloyd Morrisett and Joan Ganz Cooney).

It’s easy to see why the Kennedy Center chose the Apollo to receive this honor. For 90 years, The Apollo has been a beacon of the Harlem community; a platform for artists from the worlds of jazz, swing, bebop, R&B, gospel, blues, soul, and hip-hop. Artists who have played The Apollo’s famed Amateur Night include Ella Fitzgerald, Sarah Vaughan, Billie Holiday, James Brown, Stevie Wonder, Gladys Knight, Luther Vandross, H.E.R., D’Angelo, Lauryn Hill and Miri Ben-Ari.

Now that The Apollo has gotten the nod, what other venues would you like the Kennedy Center Honors to consider for recognition? Here are 20 choices, in alphabetical order:


22 Jul 2024

Kamala Harris Gets Most Important Endorsement of All From Charli XCX: ‘Kamala IS brat’

The 2024 presidential campaign was thrown into even further chaos on Sunday (July 21) when President Joe Biden announced that he would drop out of the race just weeks after a calamitous debate performance against Donald Trump drew renewed calls for the commander-in-chief to step aside.

Biden, 81, quickly gave VP Kamala Harris his endorsement, vaulting his second-in-command to the front of the line for the democratic party’s nomination when they gather in Chicago for the Democratic National Convention from August 19-22.

And while Biden’s shoulder tap is crucial, Harris also got another very important endorsement from a pop powerbroker: Charli XCX. The British star — who cannot vote in U.S. elections — joined a raft of celebrities cheering on Harris’ anointing, including Barbra Streisand, Lizzo, Cardi B, Cher and many others, while announcing that “Kamala IS brat.”

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The reference is to the title of the singer’s new record, brat, and an lifestyle Charli has described for someone who can be high luxury at times, or who has a “pack of cigs, a Bic lighter and a strappy white top with no bra” at others. The whole vibe is perfect for what Charli has deemed “brat summer,” a time when her fans are invited to get grimy and sweat it out on the dance floor with a few essentials (courtesy of Glamour) including: square-rimmed sunglasses you never take off, messy hair, a smudged, smoky eye, bad tattoos and old, corded Apple headphones.

At press time Charli’s original post had racked up more than 243,000 likes and more than 19 million views. Harris’ Kamala HQ campaign X account immediately appeared to hop on the coveted nod from Charli, changing the banner on its X page to the signature Brat lime green palette and font.

While it’s unlikely that Harris, 59, will show up at a club with a pack of smokes, messy hair and shades to cement the coveted XCX brat endorsement, the veep has been known to show off her dance moves in the past and is now running against the current oldest person to ever seek the presidency in former one-termer Trump, 78.

The democratic party must now scramble to officially name a replacement for Biden before the upcoming convention following the surprising announcement from Biden. The 81-year-old president who is currently battling COVID, was pressured to step down after weeks of mounting pressure from Democratic leaders for him to drop out of the tight race against twice-impeached convicted felon Trump, who was grazed on the ear by a bullet two weeks ago in an attempted assassination during a rally in Butler, PA.

At press time Harris had also begun following Charli on Instagram and X, in addition to her other pop star follows, which include Rihanna, Beyoncé, Miley Cyrus, Katy Perry, Billie Eilish, Ariana Grande, Janelle Monae, Lizzo and many more.

See Charli’s tweet below.

22 Jul 2024

Ryan Reynolds Jokes That Taylor Swift Totally Sued Him For Wearing T-Shirt of Her Cats in ‘Deadpool 2’: ‘I Lost Everything in That One’

Remember that time in Deadpool 2 where Wade (Ryan Reynolds) rocked that adorable T-shirt that featured a snap of two of Taylor Swift‘s beloved cats and the message, “Olivia & Meredith. Best Friends Purrr-ever?”

Well, as it turns out Swift did not find the bit funny. In a SiriusXM Town Hall last week in New York, Deadpool & Wolverine star Reynolds talked about the cat cameo in the 2018 sequel, joking that it got him into legal hot water with his pop superstar pal. “Yes, I had a T-shirt made. Yes, of [Swift’s cats] Meredith and Olivia on Wade’s shirt,” Reynolds told the audience. “Yeah, you know, just little details, that’s all.”

When host Jess Cagle asked if Reynolds had to get Swift’s permission to feature her kitties in the film, Reynolds went into full deadpan Deadpool mode. “Did you have to call her and get permission?” Cagle wondered. “No, I was sued. I lost everything in that one,” Reynolds teased.

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“And getting sued by a friend is tough to swallow,” Reynolds went on. “Also, she has just a lot of very, very powerful lawyers. I found out later those are just the paralegals. The real lawyers didn’t even bother with it.” He didn’t let the bit hang that long though, adding, “But… I would never do such a thing” in reference to wearing a shirt with Swift’s pets on it without her blessing.

The question came as speculation has continued to swirl that Swift may have a cameo in the upcoming Deadpool & Wolverine, which hits theaters on Friday (July 26).

Reynolds and his wife, actress Blake Lively, have been friends with Swift for years and Swifties are convinced Taylor might have a cameo in the upcoming film after Ryan recreated the Evermore cover art in a post earlier this month in which Deadpool showed up in the album cover’s misty forest. There was also an IMAX poster in which the heroes were depicted holding hands and wearing Eras Tour-like friendship bracelets. Recently, though, EW reported that Swift is definitely not in the film.

Watch the interview below.

22 Jul 2024

Slash Pays Tribute to Late Stepdaughter Lucy-Bleu Knight: ‘A Charming, Lovable, Sweet Soul’

Slash announced the passing of his stepdaughter, Lucy Bleu-Knight, 25, on Monday morning (July 22). In a post, the Guns N’ Roses guitarist and solo star posted a tribute to the young woman he called an “incredibly talented artist, a passionate dreamer, and a charming, lovable, sweet soul.”

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The post noted that Bleu-Knight, born on Dec. 6, 1998, was the “beloved daughter of Meegan Hodges and Mark Knight, stepdaughter of Samantha Somers Knight and Slash, sister of Scarlet Knight, stepsister of London and Cash Hudson,” and that she died in Los Angeles on July 19; Slash’s birth name is Saul Hudson and Meegan Hodges is the guitarist’s longtime girlfriend.

At press time no information about Bleu-Knight’s cause of death was available and the family asked for privacy during this time, adding a request that “social media speculation be kept to a minimum as they grieve and process this devastating loss.”

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On Sunday morning (July 21), Slash also announced the cancellation of four dates on his S.E.R.P.E.N.T. tour, announcing that “due to unforeseen circumstances, the S.E.R.P.E.N.T. tour regrettably has to cancel the below performances.” A spokesperson for Slash had not returned Billboard‘s request for comment on the cause of the show cancellations.

The affected shows are:

July 22 — Cincinnati, OH @ PNC Pavilion at Riverbend

July 24 — Interlochen, MI @ Interlochen Center for the Arts

July 25 — Huber Heights, OH @ Rose Music Center

July 27 — Windsor, ON @ The Colosseum at Caesars Windsor

The traveling blues festival features a headlining set from Slash and support on select dates from the Warren Hayes Band, Keb’ Mo’, Larkin Poe, Christone “Kingfish” Ingram, Samantha Fish, ZZ Ward, Robert Randolph, Eric Gales and Jackie Venson. The next scheduled date on the tour is a July 28 show in Toronto at the Budweiser Stage.

See Slash’s posts below.

22 Jul 2024

Eminem Soars to No. 1 In U.K. With ‘The Death of Slim Shady (Coup de Grâce)’

Shady’s back…at No. 1 in the U.K.

Eminem glides to the summit of the Official U.K. Albums Chart with The Death of Slim Shady (Coup de Grâce) (via Interscope), published Friday, July 19.

The Rap God’s latest LP chalks up 45,000 combined units in the chart week, according to the Official Charts Company, drawing him level with David Bowie and U2 on the all-time leaderboard, with 11 each.

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Em previously reigned in the U.K. with The Marshall Mathers LP (from 2000), The Eminem Show (2002), Encore (2004), Curtain Call: The Hits (2005), Relapse (2009), Recovery (2010), The Marshall Mathers LP 2 (2013), Revival (2017), Kamikaze (2018) and Music To Be Murdered By (2020). The Death of Slim Shady (Coup de Grâce) is also the best-seller in the United States and Australia.

BRITs rising star winner Griff bags a personal best with her debut full-length studio album Vertigo (Warner Records), new at No. 3. Vertigo goes one better than the British artist’s 2021 EP One Foot In Front of The Other, which peaked at No. 4.

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Brit Award-winning Scottish indie rock act Travis claim their 10th U.K. top 10 with L.A. Times (via BMG), new at No. 4, while London-born singer-songwriter Cat Burns collects a top-tier entry with her debut album Early Twenties (RCA), new at No. 7.

Finally, new releases from Cigarettes After Sex (X’s at No. 12 via Partisan) and Atlanta-born singer Clairo (Charm at No. 13 via Clairo) stick top 40 debuts.

Over on the Official U.K. Singles Chart, Sabrina Carpenter’s “Espresso” (Island) pours out a seventh non-consecutive week at No. 1.

Indeed, the U.S. singer and actor locks up another 1-2 in the U.K. as “Please Please Please” holds at No. 2.
Carpenter is now in joint-first place as the artist to spend the most consecutive weeks occupying both the top 2 chart positions concurrently, a record she holds with Ed Sheeran at five weeks.

Ice Spice and Central Cee’s trans-Atlantic hip-hop collaboration “Did It First”(10k Projects /Capitol/Columbia) is the top new single on the latest tally that doesn’t belong to Eminem. “Did It First” starts at No. 15 for Ice Spice’s third U.K. top 40 hit, and Central Cee’s 26th.

22 Jul 2024

Chris Cornell’s ‘Fast Car’ Cover Snippet Surfaces on Late Singer’s 60th Birthday

Chris Cornell’s 60th birthday came with a surprise for fans – a snippet of the late Soundgarden and Audioslave frontman covering Tracy Chapman’s “Fast Car.”

In a tribute clip to mark the occasion, Cornell’s widow Vicky shared a previously unheard snippet of Cornell’s cover of the Chapman classic on July 20.

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The rocker died in 2017 at the age of 52 in Detroit following a Soundgarden show. 

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“Chris would have turned 60 today. Although everyone that loved him is sad that he’s no longer here, it’s all of you, the fans, who made him, whose love has continued to keep his legacy alive. I’m so grateful to you all for that,” Vicky wrote alongside the video.

“While I remember him best as the wonderful husband, father and human being he was, I’d like to celebrate his whole life and everything he gave us. On his 60th we can all celebrate his genius as an artist who redefined music, but also the incredible man who touched and changed lives.”

She added, “He’s an icon, and he gave us all so much — his unique voice, his poetry, his creativity. His life was a gift to so many. And as you can hear — there’s more to come!!! Sharing this to thank you all for your love and support and come together in celebrating.”

The timing couldn’t be more fitting. “Fast Car” has been enjoying a major comeback, with country star Luke Combs’ version hitting No. 2 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 2023. Combs and Chapman even teamed up for a memorable duet at the 2024 Grammys, introducing the song to yet another generation.

Now, Cornell’s interpretation adds a new dimension to the song’s legacy. It’s a reminder of his ability to cross musical boundaries, much like his earlier cover of Prince’s “Nothing Compares 2 U.”

The unreleased track seems to be part of a larger collection of unheard material.

In 2021, Cornell’s estate released “No One Sings Like You Anymore: Volume One,” a covers album he recorded in 2016. At the time, Vicky hinted there was more to come. Her recent Instagram post, declaring “there’s more to come!!!”, has fans speculating about what else might be in store.

From Soundgarden’s 1994 chart-topper “Superunknown” to his Bond song “You Know My Name,” Cornell’s career was marked by versatility, and this unearthed “Fast Car” cover, even in its brevity, is a reminder of his skill for reimagining familiar tunes with his unique style.

As we mark what would have been Cornell’s 60th year, this musical snippet leaves fans curious for more.

Will a full version be released? Are there other covers waiting to be heard? For now, we’re left with this small but impactful reminder of Cornell’s enduring influence.

Check out the snippet in the video below.

22 Jul 2024

Evelyn Thomas, Disco Queen Behind ‘High Energy,’ Dies at 70

Evelyn Thomas, the powerhouse vocalist who helped define the hi-NRG dance music scene of the 1980s with her international hit “High Energy,” has died at the age of 70. The news was confirmed by her longtime producer and mentor Ian Levine on social media. No cause of death was disclosed.

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“It is hard for me to accept that my lifelong protege really has left us,” Levine wrote on X. “Her music will outlive us all.”

Born on Aug. 22, 1953, in Chicago, Thomas first caught the attention of the music industry when Levine discovered her in 1975.

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Her debut single “Weak Spot” became her first chart success, peaking at No. 26 on the U.K. Singles Chart in 1976. The early triumph led to an appearance on the influential British music show Top of the Pops, marking the beginning of her ascent in the music world.

Thomas’s career exploded with the release of “High Energy” in 1984. The track topped the Billboard Hot Billboard Hot Dance Club Play chart for one week and reached No. 85 on the Billboard Hot 100. Co-written and co-produced by Levine and Fiachra Trench, it became a defining moment in the emerging hi-NRG genre, a high-tempo offshoot of disco that dominated clubs in the mid-1980s.

“Nobody else in the world could have ever sung it,” Levine noted about vocal prowess. The pulsating dance anthem achieved remarkable commercial success, selling an impressive seven million records worldwide. As of 2024, “High Energy” continues to resonate with listeners, boasting over 15 million streams on Spotify.

Thomas’s powerful four-octave range and emotive delivery set her apart in the dance music scene. DJ and music historian Bill Brewster commented, “Evelyn’s voice had this incredible ability to convey both vulnerability and strength. She was a cornerstone of the hi-NRG movement.”

Following the success of “High Energy,” Thomas continued to make her presence felt on the charts.

Her soulful rendition of The Supremes’ “Reflections” climbed to No. 18 on the Billboard Hot Dance Club Play chart in 1985, while “How Many Hearts” ascended to No. 11 in 1986. Both tracks were featured on her final studio album, Standing at the Crossroads (1986)​.

Thomas’s discography includes notable albums such as I Wanna Make It on My Own (1978) and High Energy (1984).

Levine revealed that Thomas had reached out to him “in love” in recent months, aware of her declining health. The reconciliation led Levine and Trench to compose a final song for her titled “Inspirational,” though Thomas was ultimately too ill to record it.

Her daughter, recording artist YaYa Diamond (born Kimberly), intends to record the track as a heartfelt tribute to her mother’s legacy.

Watch “High Energy” by Evelyn Thomas below.

21 Jul 2024

Karol G Brings Out Amaia Montero for ‘Rosas’ During Show in Madrid

Throughout her Mañana Será Bonito World Tour, Karol G has brought out surprise guests to join her onstage, including Nathy Peluso in Argentina and Pabllo Vittar in Brazil. Her stop in Madrid was no exception.

Marking a show-stopping moment, Spanish singer-songwriter Amaia Montero joined Karol G onstage on Sunday (July 21) to perform her hit “Rosas” — a song she recorded as lead singer of the pop band La Oreja de Van Gogh back in the early 2000s. The euphoric moment included a sing-along with the 60,000 fans that filled the Santiago Bernabéu Stadium as Karol and Montero embraced each other.

It’s not the first time Karol G has created nostalgic moments while on tour. In March, during a stop in Venezuela, the Colombian superstar brought out iconic duo Servando y Florentino and former members of the youth salsa orchestra Salserín, where the Primera brothers performed their classic “De Sol a Sol.” Back in 2022, during her Bichota Reloaded Tour, Karol was joined by RBD’s Anahí to sing “Sálvame,” the Mexican artist’s first time singing the song live in 11 years.

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Montero was a guest during Karol’s second night (of four) in Madrid where Karol will wrap her extraordinary MSB World Tour on Tuesday (July 23). To go out with a bang, the “Provenza” singer will livestream the last show on her YouTube channel.

“We are about to have the last concert of this tour and yes, it is hard to say goodbye to something that has meant so much to all of us, but the time has come and I want us to celebrate together,” she wrote on social media. “This July 23rd, our last concert, we will broadcast it through my YouTube channel, in real time, so that EVERYONE, anywhere in the world, can watch it and celebrate this beautiful thing we built together.”

Watch Montero and Karol sing “Rosas” below:

21 Jul 2024

Coldplay Dedicates ‘Everglow’ to Taylor Swift at German Concert: ‘This Is for All of You Who Feel Sad’

In an unexpected crossover of pop titans, Coldplay’s Chris Martin paid homage to Taylor Swift during their Düsseldorf concert on Saturday (July 20).

Before performing their 2016 track “Everglow,” Martin dedicated the song to Swift and her fans, acknowledging her recent departure from nearby Gelsenkirchen after completing her Eras Tour shows in the city last Friday.

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“This is for Taylor Swift because she left town,” Martin said from behind the piano, eliciting cheers from the crowd at Merkur Spiel-Arena. “This is for all of you who feel sad today because Taylor had to go to the next city. So we sing this love song, this heartbreak song, and send it to Taylor wherever she is today.”

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The thoughtful dedication comes as Swift continues her record-breaking Eras Tour across Germany, with upcoming stops in Hamburg and Munich.

The “Anti-Hero” singer recently celebrated the enthusiastic reception from German Swifties, praising their “amazing” and “thoughtful” support during her three-night run in Gelsenkirchen.

“Those 3 Gelsenkirchen crowds were AMAZING, and so thoughtful???” she wrote on Instagram. “There were signs and paper hearts, the ‘Betty’ wave, and tons of DIY ‘willow’ orbs made out of balloons + phone flashlights. Thank you!!!”

Swift also expressed her appreciation for the support of her latest album, The Tortured Poets Department, and the fact that the album had stayed at number one for its first 12 weeks, a milestone she had never achieved before.

“I also wanted to say to everyone who’s supported The Tortured Poets Department, I am completely blown away by what you’ve done – it stayed at #1 for the first 12 weeks of its release and that’s never happened to an album of mine before, not even close!!” the “Blank Space” singer wrote.

She added, “You’re just the greatest. Anyway, now that we’ve officially kicked off our shows in Germany, I can’t wait to see you all in Hamburg next!”

Coldplay’s European tour leg follows their headline-grabbing performance at the 2024 Glastonbury Festival in late June. The band is set to continue their run with another show in Düsseldorf on July 21.

On the Billboard charts, both Coldplay and Taylor Swift continue to make waves. Swift’s The Tortured Poets Department remains a fixture in the top 10 of the Billboard 200, while Coldplay’s latest single “Higher Power” is climbing the Hot 100.

Check out Coldplay’s dedication to Taylor Swift below.