State Champ Radio Music
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Like the reported five million plus Americans who took to the streets across the country over the weekend as part of the massive “No Kings” rallies, Bad Bunny is not happy with the Trump administration’s recent actions. In a video posted to his Instagram Story on Tuesday (June 17), the singer lashed out at what he said was a raid by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in his native Puerto Rico.
“Those motherf–kers are in these cars, RAV4’s,” Bad Bunny can be heard saying in the video in Spanish over footage of a scrum of unmarked SUVs blocking the street and seemingly apprehending some people on what the singer said was Avenida Pontezuela in Carolina, Puerto Rico. “They came here… sons of b–ches, instead of letting the people alone and working.”
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At press time it was unclear what the footage Bad Bunny posted was depicting, but if the action was part of the Trump administration’s stepped-up ICE raids all over the U.S. it comes after the president surged more than 4,000 National Guard members and 700 active-duty Marines into Los Angeles — over the objections of both the mayor and the state’s governor — to quell what have been mostly peaceful protests against the ICE raids in that city.
Though Trump promised to remove criminals who are in the U.S. without proper documentation, the ICE raids have so far targeted a much wider swath of folks. NPR reported recently that the raids in Puerto Rico have mostly rounded up Dominican immigrants in actions that harken back to the island’s “long history of anti-Dominican racism,” with racial profiling possibly playing a role in the arrests.
Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in Puerto Rico Rebecca González-Ramos said agents on the island nation have done surprise raids at hotels and construction sites, questioned people in the street and asked workers at the department of motor vehicles to hand over the names and addresses of the estimated 6,000 people who got licenses under an immigrant-friendly law that opened driving privileges to people without legal status, according to NPR.
González-Ramos added that so far ICE agents in P.R. have arrested close to 500 immigrants for deportation in the first four months of Trump’s second administration, less than 80 of whom had criminal records; three-quarters of those arrested have been Dominican nationals.
Bad Bunny joins a rising chorus of artists who’ve lashed out at the ICE raids. Over the weekend, Olivia Rodrigo posted her thoughts on the ICE deportations, saying, “I’ve lived in LA my whole life, and I’m deeply upset about these violent deportations of my neighbors under the current administration. LA simply wouldn’t exist without immigrants.”
Addison Rae also said she was “so disappointed and disturbed by what is happening across our nation. This country could not exist without immigrants. Every human being deserves the right to exist in an environment that makes them feel safe, lovingly protected, and embraced.” Finneas claimed he was tear-gassed during a peaceful protest in L.A. earlier this month, writing “F–K ICE… If you are into this fascist s–t you are small and weak and will lose.”
Green Day’s Billie Joe Armstrong has also hit out at ICE, in addition to Katy Perry who has called the raids a “huge injustice,” while Shakira said she lives in “constant fear” as an immigrant in the U.S. Others who protested the actions in L.A. include Tyler, the Creator, The Game, Kehlani, Tom Morello, Reneé Rapp and Rebecca Black.
Earlier this month, California Gov. Gavin Newsom sued the Trump administration to end what he said was the “illegal and unnecessary takeover of a CalGuard unit, which has needlessly escalated chaos and violence in the Los Angeles region.” The lawsuit names Trump, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and the Department of Defense, in a filing that outlines “why the takeover violates the U.S. Constitution and exceeds the President’s Title 10 authority, not only because the takeover occurred without the consent or input of the Governor, as federal law requires, but also because it was unwarranted.”
Trump responded over the weekend by saying that ICE must “expand efforts to detain and deport Illegal Aliens in America’s largest Cities, such as Los Angeles, Chicago, and New York, where Millions upon Millions of Illegal Aliens reside,” cities the president described as “the core of the Democrat Power Center.”
Kneecap’s Mo Chara appeared at Westminster’s Magistrates Court on Wednesday (June 18) in relation to an alleged terror offense.
In May, the MC (born Liam Óg Ó hAnnaidh) was charged for allegedly showing support for militant organizations Hamas and Hezbollah – both of which are defined as terror groups by U.K. law – in newly surfaced videos from a past concert. The video appeared to show Chara shouting “up Hamas, up Hezbollah” and displaying a Hezbollah flag at a show in London in November 2024.
During the hearing, Mo Chara spoke only to confirm his name. The Press Association reports that Chief Magistrate Paul Goldspring, presiding over the case, released him on unconditional bail and set a hearing date of Aug. 20. Mr Goldspring said that the 27-year-old must attend court on that day. Prosecutor Michael Bisgrove told the court: “This case is not about Mr hAnnaidh’s support for the people of Palestine or his criticism of Israel.” (via The Irish News)
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Campaigners supporting the group were present at the court’s entrance, with the band and its label Heavenly encouraging fans to attend.
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The Belfast trio, made up of Mo Chara, Móglaí Bap and DJ Próvaí arrived to court wearing “Free Mo Chara” t-shirts. In the build-up to the court case, Kneecap had “plastered” London with billboards with the message ‘More Blacks, More Dogs, More Irish, Mo Chara,’ in reference to the discriminatory slogan that was present at some London pubs in the 1950s and ’60s.
Speaking on their social platforms, the group called the charge “a carnival of distraction” from what they see as the real issue at hand: “Israel is committing genocide against the Palestinian people. It is being enabled by the U.S. government who arm and fund Israel despite their war crimes.”
The group say that their pro-Palestine views have been weaponised against them and claimed that their artistic free speech has been infringed. A number of artists including Massive Attack, Fontaines D.C., Paul Weller and IDLES signed an open letter backing the trio. On Monday, The Smiths’ guitarist Johnny Marr shared a statement showing support for Kneecap, and called for them to remain on the bill at Glastonbury Festival next week (June 27-29) despite calls for a boycott.
The Northern Irish hip-hop trio released their breakthrough album Fine Art in 2024 alongside a self-titled biopic which saw critical acclaim, and was nominated for an Academy Award as well as winning a BAFTA prize.
In April 2025, the group ended their Coachella sets with a message that stated: “Israel is committing genocide against the Palestinian people. It is being enabled by the U.S. government who arm and fund Israel despite their war crimes. F–k Israel; free Palestine.” A number of industry names including Sharon Osbourne called for them to be removed from the bill and their work visas to be revoked.
Past videos of the band soon began to surface, including one from November 2023 with the group allegedly saying: “The only good Tory is a dead Tory. Kill your local MP.” Kneecap issued a statement on the remarks, offering an apology to the families of Sir David Amess and Jo Cox; both were killed while standing as MPs in separate incidents in 2021 and 2016, respectively.
“Let us be unequivocal: we do not, and have never, supported Hamas or Hezbollah. We condemn all attacks on civilians, always. It is never okay,” the group said. “We know this more than anyone, given our nation’s history. We also reject any suggestion that we would seek to incite violence against any MP or individual. Ever. An extract of footage, deliberately taken out of all context, is now being exploited and weaponised, as if it were a call to action.” The group were not charged in connection with this incident.
During the fallout, a number of the band’s shows were cancelled by organisers, including TRNSMT in Glasgow, Scotland and the Eden Sessions in Cornwall. Kneecap announced – and promptly sold out – make-up shows for fans in those cities.
Chase Varnes had a rough start on Tuesday night’s episode of America’s Got Talent, but the 13-year-old singer from Vancouver Island ended up delivering one of the most memorable performances of the season so far — thanks to a little help from Ed Sheeran.
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Varnes began his audition with an original song on acoustic guitar, but was quickly interrupted by judge Simon Cowell. “I hate to do this,” Cowell said. “I didn’t love the song; however, I like you. Have you got another song?”
Without missing a beat, Varnes launched into a cover of Ed Sheeran’s “Life Goes On,” originally featuring Luke Combs, and instantly won over the crowd and most of the judges.
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“You know, you remind me of a young Justin Bieber,” said Howie Mandel, referencing Varnes’ Canadian roots and early busking background. The compliment made the teen visibly light up on stage.
Sofía Vergara also applauded the performance, saying, “I know it’s nerve-racking to be on this stage, but I thought it was better the second song. Simon always knows how to stop it and make it better. I think the girls are gonna go crazy for you.”
Mel B, however, had a more measured response. “You were great. You were a diamond in the rough with so much potential,” she said. “But I can see your nervousness. You’re not quite there yet for me.”
While Mel B gave him a “no,” both Mandel and Vergara offered their yeses. That left Cowell to cast the deciding vote.
“Sometimes we have on people your age, and I’m like, ‘Okay, I’ll be sort of nicer because you’re young,’” Cowell said. “You, I actually do believe, that you have something… You’ve got everything going for you. The audience loved you, which is why you’re gonna get three yeses.”
Varnes’ cover of “Life Goes On” was a breakout moment on the night’s episode, trending online alongside a series of cat-themed novelty acts — including a rapper named Moshow and a group called Loco Pop Familia, who performed dressed entirely as cats.
America’s Got Talent airs Tuesdays at 8 p.m. ET/PT on NBC.
Ozzy Osbourne is officially the Prince of Immortality, or at least, he’s giving fans a shot at it.
In one of the most bizarre and perfectly on-brand collaborations of the year, Liquid Death has announced it will sell a limited run of iced tea cans containing traces of Osbourne’s actual DNA.
The ultra-limited release, dubbed Infinite Ozzy, features 10 cans of Liquid Death Iced Tea that were each consumed by Osbourne before being sealed to preserve his DNA, with each can coming in a lab-quality display container and is hand-signed by the rock legend. The drop will go live Tuesday (June 17) at liquiddeath.com/ozzy, with each DNA can priced at $450.
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The campaign arrives just weeks before Osbourne is set to return to the stage for what’s being billed as the final Black Sabbath show. The metal icon recently revealed that he’s undergoing intense training to prepare for Back to the Beginning, the massive July 5 hometown concert at Villa Park in Birmingham, England — his first full performance since 2018.
“I haven’t done any physical work for the last seven, six and a half, seven years,” Osbourne shared during the latest episode of his SiriusXM show Ozzy Speaks. “By hook or by crook, I’m gonna make it [to the stage at Villa Park].” The star-studded farewell show is set to feature appearances by Metallica, Mastodon, Pantera, Slayer, Anthrax, Gojira, Alice in Chains, and a supergroup composed of members of Guns N’ Roses, Limp Bizkit, Rage Against the Machine and more.
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“I’ve got this trainer guy who helps people get back to normal,” he added. “It’s hard going, but he’s convinced that he can pull it off for me. I’m giving it everything I’ve got.”
As for the Liquid Death collab, the brand says the goal is to preserve Osbourne’s DNA in case fans want to clone him in the future, once technology and law allow. The campaign leans heavily into Liquid Death’s signature over-the-top style, which previously included Tony Hawk skateboards infused with his blood.
A teaser video shared with press ahead of the launch shows Osbourne deadpanning: “My DNA is in this can. You could clone me — but why the f**k would you want to?” Only 10 Infinite Ozzy cans exist.
Osbourne’s most recent studio album, Patient Number 9, debuted at No. 3 on the Billboard 200 in 2022. Despite major health setbacks, including spinal surgeries and a Parkinson’s diagnosis, he has remained creatively active and continues to embrace his role as heavy metal’s most enduring provocateur.
Northern Irish hip-hop trio Kneecap remain defiant ahead of a court appearance for member Mo Chara this week, launching a billboard takeover in London in response.
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The series of billboards was announced on the group’s social media on Tuesday (June 17) ahead of Mo Chara’s scheduled appearance at Westminster Crown Court over terror charges on Wednesday.
Mo Chara, born Liam Óg Ó hAnnaidh, was last month charged with a terrorism offense by London’s Metropolitan Police after being investigated for allegedly showing support for militant groups Hamas and Hezbollah in historic videos. Both are proscribed as terror groups according to U.K. law, and considered an offense under the Terrorism Act 2000.
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In response, Kneecap claimed that the alleged offense is little more than a “carnival of distraction” designed to shift the spotlight away from more pertinent matters. “We deny this ‘offence’ and will vehemently defend ourselves,” Kneecap wrote in a statement.
The group’s timely billboard campaign follows in the same vein as their initial response, with a social media post seeing the group note the messages were specifically plastered in the lead-up to the impending court appearance, which they labelled a “witch-hunt.”
“British courts have long charged people from the North of Ireland with ‘terrorism’ for crimes never committed,” they wrote. “We will fight them. We will win.”
The billboards – in the Irish flag colors of green, white and orange – feature the phrase “More Blacks, More Dogs, More Irish, Mo Chara,” referencing the “No Irish, No Blacks, No Dogs” slogan which gained traction in the 20th century to discriminate against the aforementioned groups.
Currently, Kneecap are also scheduled to perform at the Glastonbury Festival in England later this month, despite politicians throughout the U.K. writing to organizers of festivals which have booked the band to request their removal.
Though the group remain on the final lineup for Glastonbury, they were however recently removed from Scotland’s TRNSMT festival in July following safety concerns from law enforcement.
Hatebreed guitarist Wayne Lozinak has announced a temporary departure from the group following the discovery of a non cancerous brain tumor.
News of Lozinak’s health update was shared by the band on social media on Tuesday (June 17), explaining that the guitarist had first experienced “mild symptoms that raised concerns of a possible stroke” during their visit to England’s Download Festival on Saturday (June 14).
“Out of an abundance of caution, he sought medical attention the following day upon arriving in Lille, France,” the post explained. After undergoing a CT scan at the ER, doctors discovered a brain tumor, leading to his immediate admission for further testing.
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“Following a thorough 24-hour evaluation, including an MRI, it was determined that the tumor is a benign meningioma—a slow-growing mass that has likely been present for years. We are immensely relieved that Wayne’s diagnosis is the best possible outcome given the circumstances.”
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Currently, Lozinak is in the process of returning to the U.S. so that he can “prepare for surgery and focus on rest and recovery.” Noting his determination to return to the band “as soon as he is able,” the group added that in his absence, Lozinak’s role will be filled by Shadows Fall’s Matt Bachand.
Notably, Bachand has performed in Hatebreed since November 2024, having taken over from bassist Chris Beattie following his departure from the band. In a statement shared in February, Beattie clarified that “the decision to leave the band was not mine,” citing “misleading and wrongful statements” as leading to his exit.
Hatebreed also added that First Blood’s Carl Schwartz has now taken on the role of bassist following Bachand’s move to guitar.
Hatebreed first formed in Bridgeport, Connecticut in 1994 and released their debut album three years later. They found widespread fame with 2002’s Perseverance, which reached No. 50 on the Billboard 200, while the group later received a Grammy nomination for best metal performance in 2004.
Further albums improved on their initial chart showing, with 2013’s The Divinity of Purpose becoming their most commercially-successful when it peaked at No. 20 and additionally topped the Top Hard Rock Albums chart. Their most recent album, 2020’s Weight of the False Self, became their first not to impact the Billboard 200 since their debut, but peaked at No. 12 on the Hard Rock Albums.
Hatebreed’s current Wight of the False Self Tour is making its way through Europe presently, with dates scheduled across the U.K. and North America until October.
Oasis has announced a series of pop-up stores for fans to purchase merchandise for its hotly anticipated reunion tour, which kicks off on July 4 in Cardiff, Wales.
The official Oasis Live ‘25 Fan Stores will launch nationwide throughout the U.K. and Ireland, giving fans the opportunity to purchase merchandise ahead of the shows. The first space will open in Manchester on June 20 until July 27, with stores in Cardiff, London, Edinburgh, Dublin and Birmingham set to be announced in due course. Locations for each are to be confirmed in the coming days; there is currently no confirmation if the band will open similar pop-up stores for their other dates later this summer.
Fans will be able to access a range of official tour merchandise, including exclusive brand collaborations, limited-edition products and items exclusive to the Live ‘25 Fan Stores. The band’s web store will also begin stocking official tour merchandise later this week, with details set to be confirmed imminently.
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In November 2024, it was announced that Oasis had selected Warner Music Group’s merchandise and fan-experience division WMX as the official partner for their Live ‘25 reunion tour. In May, Amazon also launched its own exclusive range of Oasis merch, including a reproduction of a T-shirt from the band’s Knebworth shows in 1996.
They’re not the first to announce pop-up shops to meet fans’ demand for merchandise. Last week, Dua Lipa announced an pop-up in London ahead of her sold-out shows at Wembley Stadium (June 20, 21), and Tyler, the Creator, Harry Styles and more have all tapped into the lucrative merchandise market with dedicated stores for fans on tour stops in recent years.
In August 2024, it was announced that Noel and Liam Gallagher would reunite as Oasis to play a series of concerts, their first since 2009. The band is set to play a run of 41 shows across the U.K. and Ireland, North America, Latin America, Asia and Australia throughout 2025.
While details on the shows remain under wraps, Liam has used his social media profiles to tease fans with insider info. When he joined rehearsals in early June, Liam said the band sound “F–king FILTHY,” and that new drummer Joey Waronker was a “special” addition to the lineup.
It is thought that Waronker will join former Oasis members Andy Bell (bass), Gem Archer (guitar), Paul “Bonehead” Arthurs (guitar) alongside Noel and Liam at the shows.
Suge Knight has continuously shared his opinions about Diddy‘s ongoing trial and recently spoke in more detail about why so many of Puff’s supporters are going silent. On Monday, Suge Knight called in for a lengthy phone call with host Aubrey O’Day, who has been covering the ongoing trial as part of Amy Robach and […]
Cardi B is back “Outside” and she’s ready to supply the soundtrack to your summer block party. The Grammy-winning rapper announced her first solo single of 2025, with “Outside” slated to arrive on Friday (June 20). “We OUTSIDE this Friday,” she wrote on Instagram. The cover art encapsulates a summer turn-up in NYC, featuring a […]
New England Patriots wide receiver Stefon Diggs has been known as a sharp route-runner during his NFL career, but he may need to apply that athleticism to his dance moves to impress Cardi B in the future. Diggs provided a life update on his Instagram Monday (June 16), and the carousel featured a photo of […]
